Abstract
We investigate the evolution of the Ni electronic and magnetic structure on fs to ps time scales following fs-laser excitation. Within 200 fs after excitation the Ni 3d ferromagnetic moment is reduced as probed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. At the same time the Ni 3d electronic structure undergoes pronounced changes as demonstrated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy. We show that the latter persists also into thermal equilibrium which is reached on the ps time scale. Cluster calculations identify a reduction in 3d-4sp hybridization possibly associated with phonon-driven spin-flip excitations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 092404 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials physics |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2009 |
Funding
We thank T. Quast, R. Mitzner, K. Holldack, D. Ponwitz, and S. Khan for their help during the measurements, and P. Oppeneer for stimulating discussions. This work was supported by the European Union.
Keywords
- band structure
- magnetic circular dichroism
- magnetic moments
- magnetic structure
- nickel
- X-ray absorption spectra
- X-RAY-ABSORPTION
- CIRCULAR-DICHROISM
- TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE
- FERROMAGNETIC NICKEL
- NI 2P
- EXCHANGE
- PHOTOEMISSION
- EXCITATIONS
- SPECTRUM
- IRON