Theory of femtosecond laser-induced demagnetization

Abstract

Using ab initio calculations we computed the ultrafast demagnetization that can be achieved by Elliott-Yafet electron-phonon spin-flip scatterings in laserexcited ferromagnets. Our calculations show that nonequilibrium laser-created distributions contribute mostly to the ultrafast demagnetization.

Nonetheless, the total Elliott-Yafet contribution is too small to account for the fs-demagnetization.

Keywords

• Calculations
• Demagnetization
• Phonons
• Ab initio calculations
• Electron phonon
• Ferromagnets
• Non equilibrium
• Spin-flip scattering
• Ultrafast demagnetization