In-plane reorientation induced single laser pulse magnetization reversal

Single Pulse All Optical Switching represents the ability to reverse the magnetization of a nanostructure using a femtosecond single laser pulse without any applied field. Since the first switching experiments carried out on GdFeCo ferrimagnets, this phenomena has been only recently extended to a few other materials, MnRuGa alloys and Tb/Co multilayers with a very specific range of thickness and composition. Here, we demonstrate that single pulse switching can be obtained for a large range of rare earth–transition metal multilayers, making this phenomenon much more general. Surprisingly, the threshold fluence for switching is observed to be independent of the laser pulse duration. Moreover, at high laser intensities, concentric ring domain structures are induced. These striking features contrast to those observed in Gd based materials pointing towards a different reversal mechanism. Concomitant with the demonstration of an in-plane magnetization reorientation, a precessional reversal mechanism explains all the observed features. All-optical switching of magnetization refers to the process whereby an optical pulse is used to reverse the magnetization of a magnetic system. In a small subset of magnetic materials, this process can occur with a single optical pulse, known as single-shot all optical switching, enabling fast operations. Here, Peng et al show that this process can occur for a wide variety of rare earth–transition metal multilayers, expanding the range of potential materials that can exhibit this effect.