Ab InitioInvestigation of the Elliott-Yafet Electron-Phonon Mechanism in Laser-Induced Ultrafast Demagnetization
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: The spin-flip (SF) Eliashberg function is calculated from first principles for ferromagnetic Ni to accurately establish the contribution of Elliott-Yafet electron-phonon SF scattering to Ni's femtosecond laser-driven demagnetization. This is used to compute the SF probability and demagnetization rate for laser-created thermalized as well as nonequilibrium electron distributions. Increased SF probabilities are found for thermalized electrons, but the induced demagnetization rate is extremely small. A larger demagnetization rate is obtained for nonequilibrium electron distributions, but its contribution is too small to account for femtosecond demagnetization.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: K. Carva, M. Battiato, P. M. Oppeneer
Institutions: Uppsala University, Charles University
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2092363655