@article{ZeuschnerParpiievPezeriletal.2019, author = {Zeuschner, Steffen and Parpiiev, Tymur and Pezeril, Thomas and Hillion, Arnaud and Dumesnil, Karine and Anane, Abdelmadjid and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Willig, Lisa and R{\"o}ssle, Matthias and Herzog, Marc and von Reppert, Alexander and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Tracking picosecond strain pulses in heterostructures that exhibit giant magnetostriction}, series = {Structural Dynamics}, volume = {6}, journal = {Structural Dynamics}, number = {2}, publisher = {AIP Publishing LLC}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {2329-7778}, doi = {10.1063/1.5084140}, pages = {9}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We combine ultrafast X-ray diffraction (UXRD) and time-resolved Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) measurements to monitor the strain pulses in laser-excited TbFe2/Nb heterostructures. Spatial separation of the Nb detection layer from the laser excitation region allows for a background-free characterization of the laser-generated strain pulses. We clearly observe symmetric bipolar strain pulses if the excited TbFe2 surface terminates the sample and a decomposition of the strain wavepacket into an asymmetric bipolar and a unipolar pulse, if a SiO2 glass capping layer covers the excited TbFe2 layer. The inverse magnetostriction of the temporally separated unipolar strain pulses in this sample leads to a MOKE signal that linearly depends on the strain pulse amplitude measured through UXRD. Linear chain model simulations accurately predict the timing and shape of UXRD and MOKE signals that are caused by the strain reflections from multiple interfaces in the heterostructure.}, language = {en} } @article{WilligvonReppertDebetal.2019, author = {Willig, Lisa and von Reppert, Alexander and Deb, Marwan and Ganss, F. and Hellwig, O. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Finite-size effects in ultrafast remagnetization dynamics of FePt}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {100}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {22}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.100.224408}, pages = {6}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We investigate the ultrafast magnetization dynamics of FePt in the L1(0) phase after an optical heating pulse, as used in heat-assisted magnetic recording. We compare continuous and nano-granular thin films and emphasize the impact of the finite size on the remagnetization dynamics. The remagnetization speeds up significantly with increasing external magnetic field only for the continuous film, where domain-wall motion governs the dynamics. The ultrafast remagnetization dynamics in the continuous film are only dominated by heat transport in the regime of high magnetic fields, whereas the timescale required for cooling is prevalent in the granular film for all magnetic field strengths. These findings highlight the necessary conditions for studying the intrinsic heat transport properties in magnetic materials.}, language = {en} } @article{vonReppertWilligPudelletal.2018, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Willig, Lisa and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Roessle, M. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Herzog, Marc and Ganss, F. and Hellwig, O. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Ultrafast laser generated strain in granular and continuous FePt thin films}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {113}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.5050234}, pages = {5}, year = {2018}, abstract = {We employ ultrafast X-ray diffraction to compare the lattice dynamics of laser-excited continuous and granular FePt films on MgO (100) substrates. Contrary to recent results on free-standing granular films, we observe in both cases a pronounced and long-lasting out-of-plane expansion. We attribute this discrepancy to the in-plane expansion, which is suppressed by symmetry in continuous films. Granular films on substrates are less constrained and already show a reduced out-of-plane contraction. Via the Poisson effect, out-of-plane contractions drive in-plane expansion and vice versa. Consistently, the granular film exhibits a short-lived out-of-plane contraction driven by ultrafast demagnetization which is followed by a reduced and delayed expansion. From the acoustic reflections of the observed strain waves at the film-substrate interface, we extract a 13\% reduction of the elastic constants in thin 10 nm FePt films compared to bulk-like samples. (C) 2018 Author(s).}, language = {en} } @article{vonReppertSarhanSteteetal.2016, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Sarhan, Radwan Mohamed and Stete, Felix and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Del Fatti, N. and Crut, A. and Koetz, Joachim and Liebig, Ferenc and Prietzel, Claudia Christina and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Watching the Vibration and Cooling of Ultrathin Gold Nanotriangles by Ultrafast X-ray Diffraction}, series = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, volume = {120}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1932-7447}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b11651}, pages = {28894 -- 28899}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We study the vibrations of ultrathin gold nanotriangles upon optical excitation of the electron gas by ultrafast X-ray diffraction. We quantitatively measure the strain evolution in these highly asymmetric nano-objects, providing a direct estimation of the amplitude and phase of the excited vibrational motion. The maximal strain value is well reproduced by calculations addressing pump absorption by the nanotriangles and their resulting thermal expansion. The amplitude and phase of the out-of-plane vibration mode with 3.6 ps period dominating the observed oscillations are related to two distinct excitation mechanisms. Electronic and phonon pressures impose stresses with different time dependences. The nanosecond relaxation of the expansion yields a direct temperature sensing of the nano-object. The presence of a thin organic molecular layer at the nanotriangle/substrate interfaces drastically reduces the thermal conductance to the substrate.}, language = {en} } @article{vonReppertPudellKocetal.2016, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Koc, A. and Reinhardt, M. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Dumesnil, K. and Zamponi, Flavio and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Persistent nonequilibrium dynamics of the thermal energies in the spin and phonon systems of an antiferromagnet}, series = {Structural dynamics}, volume = {3}, journal = {Structural dynamics}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {2329-7778}, doi = {10.1063/1.4961253}, pages = {11}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present a temperature and fluence dependent Ultrafast X-Ray Diffraction study of a laser-heated antiferromagnetic dysprosium thin film. The loss of antiferromagnetic order is evidenced by a pronounced lattice contraction. We devise a method to determine the energy flow between the phonon and spin system from calibrated Bragg peak positions in thermal equilibrium. Reestablishing the magnetic order is much slower than the cooling of the lattice, especially around the Neel temperature. Despite the pronounced magnetostriction, the transfer of energy from the spin system to the phonons in Dy is slow after the spin-order is lost. (C) 2016 Author(s).}, language = {en} } @article{vonReppertPuddellKocetal.2016, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Puddell, J. and Koc, A. and Reinhardt, M. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Dumesnil, K. and Zamponi, Flavio and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Persistent nonequilibrium dynamics of the thermal energies in the spin and phonon systems of an antiferromagnet}, series = {Structural dynamics}, volume = {3}, journal = {Structural dynamics}, publisher = {AIP Publishing LLC}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {2329-7778}, doi = {10.1063/1.4961253}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present a temperature and fluence dependent Ultrafast X-Ray Diffraction study of a laser-heated antiferromagnetic dysprosium thin film. The loss of antiferromagnetic order is evidenced by a pronounced lattice contraction. We devise a method to determine the energy flow between the phonon and spin system from calibrated Bragg peak positions in thermal equilibrium. Reestablishing the magnetic order is much slower than the cooling of the lattice, especially around the N{\´e}el temperature. Despite the pronounced magnetostriction, the transfer of energy from the spin system to the phonons in Dy is slow after the spin-order is lost.}, language = {en} } @article{vonReppertMatternPudelletal.2020, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Mattern, Maximilian and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Zeuschner, Steffen Peer and Dumesnil, Karine and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Unconventional picosecond strain pulses resulting from the saturation of magnetic stress within a photoexcited rare earth layer}, series = {Structural Dynamics}, volume = {7}, journal = {Structural Dynamics}, number = {024303}, publisher = {AIP Publishing LLC}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {2329-7778}, doi = {10.1063/1.5145315}, pages = {13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Optical excitation of spin-ordered rare earth metals triggers a complex response of the crystal lattice since expansive stresses from electron and phonon excitations compete with a contractive stress induced by spin disorder. Using ultrafast x-ray diffraction experiments, we study the layer specific strain response of a dysprosium film within a metallic heterostructure upon femtosecond laser-excitation. The elastic and diffusive transport of energy to an adjacent, non-excited detection layer clearly separates the contributions of strain pulses and thermal excitations in the time domain. We find that energy transfer processes to magnetic excitations significantly modify the observed conventional bipolar strain wave into a unipolar pulse. By modeling the spin system as a saturable energy reservoir that generates substantial contractive stress on ultrafast timescales, we can reproduce the observed strain response and estimate the time- and space dependent magnetic stress. The saturation of the magnetic stress contribution yields a non-monotonous total stress within the nanolayer, which leads to unconventional picosecond strain pulses.}, language = {en} } @article{SanderKocKwamenetal.2016, author = {Sander, Mathias and Koc, A. and Kwamen, C. T. and Michaels, H. and von Reppert, Alexander and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Zamponi, Flavio and Bargheer, Matias and Sellmann, J. and Schwarzkopf, J. and Gaal, P.}, title = {Characterization of an ultrafast Bragg-Switch for shortening hard x-ray pulses}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {120}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/1.4967835}, pages = {7}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present a nanostructured device that functions as photoacoustic hard x-ray switch. The device is triggered by femtosecond laser pulses and allows for temporal gating of hard x-rays on picosecond (ps) timescales. It may be used for pulse picking or even pulse shortening in 3rd generation synchrotron sources. Previous approaches mainly suffered from insufficient switching contrasts due to excitation-induced thermal distortions. We present a new approach where thermal distortions are spatially separated from the functional switching layers in the structure. Our measurements yield a switching contrast of 14, which is sufficient for efficient hard x-ray pulse shortening. The optimized structure also allows for utilizing the switch at high repetition rates of up to 208 kHz. Published by AIP Publishing.}, language = {en} } @article{PudellvonReppertSchicketal.2019, author = {Pudell, Jan-Etienne and von Reppert, Alexander and Schick, D. and Zamponi, F. and R{\"o}ssle, Matthias and Herzog, M. and Zabel, Hartmut and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Ultrafast negative thermal expansion driven by spin disorder}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {99}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.99.094304}, pages = {7}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We measure the transient strain profile in a nanoscale multilayer system composed of yttrium, holmium, and niobium after laser excitation using ultrafast x-ray diffraction. The strain propagation through each layer is determined by transient changes in the material-specific Bragg angles. We experimentally derive the exponentially decreasing stress profile driving the strain wave and show that it closely matches the optical penetration depth. Below the Neel temperature of Ho, the optical excitation triggers negative thermal expansion, which is induced by a quasi-instantaneous contractive stress and a second contractive stress contribution increasing on a 12-ps timescale. These two timescales were recently measured for the spin disordering in Ho [Rettig et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 257202 (2016)]. As a consequence, we observe an unconventional bipolar strain pulse with an inverted sign traveling through the heterostructure.}, language = {en} } @article{PudellMaznevHerzogetal.2018, author = {Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Maznev, A. A. and Herzog, Marc and Kronseder, M. and Back, Christian H. and Malinowski, Gregory and von Reppert, Alexander and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Layer specific observation of slow thermal equilibration in ultrathin metallic nanostructures by femtosecond X-ray diffraction}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-05693-5}, pages = {7}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Ultrafast heat transport in nanoscale metal multilayers is of great interest in the context of optically induced demagnetization, remagnetization and switching. If the penetration depth of light exceeds the bilayer thickness, layer-specific information is unavailable from optical probes. Femtosecond diffraction experiments provide unique experimental access to heat transport over single digit nanometer distances. Here, we investigate the structural response and the energy flow in the ultrathin double-layer system: gold on ferromagnetic nickel. Even though the excitation pulse is incident from the Au side, we observe a very rapid heating of the Ni lattice, whereas the Au lattice initially remains cold. The subsequent heat transfer from Ni to the Au lattice is found to be two orders of magnitude slower than predicted by the conventional heat equation and much slower than electron-phonon coupling times in Au. We present a simplified model calculation highlighting the relevant thermophysical quantities.}, language = {en} }