@article{BojahrHerzogMitzscherlingetal.2013, author = {Bojahr, Andre and Herzog, Marc and Mitzscherling, Steffen and Maerten, Lena and Schick, Daniel and Goldshteyn, J. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Shayduk, R. and Gaal, P. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Brillouin scattering of visible and hard X-ray photons from optically synthesized phonon wavepackets}, series = {Optics express : the international electronic journal of optics}, volume = {21}, journal = {Optics express : the international electronic journal of optics}, number = {18}, publisher = {Optical Society of America}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1094-4087}, doi = {10.1364/OE.21.021188}, pages = {21188 -- 21197}, year = {2013}, abstract = {We monitor how destructive interference of undesired phonon frequency components shapes a quasi-monochromatic hypersound wavepacket spectrum during its local real-time preparation by a nanometric transducer and follow the subsequent decay by nonlinear coupling. We prove each frequency component of an optical supercontinuum probe to be sensitive to one particular phonon wavevector in bulk material and cross-check this by ultrafast x-ray diffraction experiments with direct access to the lattice dynamics. Establishing reliable experimental techniques with direct access to the transient spectrum of the excitation is crucial for the interpretation in strongly nonlinear regimes, such as soliton formation.}, language = {en} } @article{BojahrHerzogSchicketal.2012, author = {Bojahr, Andre and Herzog, Marc and Schick, Daniel and Vrejoiu, Ionela and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Calibrated real-time detection of nonlinearly propagating strain waves}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {86}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {14}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {1098-0121}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.86.144306}, pages = {5}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Epitaxially grown metallic oxide transducers support the generation of ultrashort strain pulses in SrTiO3 (STO) with high amplitudes up to 0.5\%. The strain amplitudes are calibrated by real-time measurements of the lattice deformation using ultrafast x-ray diffraction. We determine the speed at which the strain fronts propagate by broadband picosecond ultrasonics and conclude that, above a strain level of approx. 0.2\%, the compressive and tensile strain components travel at considerably different sound velocities, indicating nonlinear wave behavior. Simulations based on an anharmonic linear-chain model are in excellent accord with the experimental findings and show how the spectrum of coherent phonon modes changes with time.}, language = {en} } @article{BojahrSchickMaertenetal.2012, author = {Bojahr, Andre and Schick, Daniel and M{\"a}rten, Lena and Herzog, Marc and Vrejoiu, Ionela and von Korff Schmising, Clemens and Milne, Chris and Johnson, Steven Lee and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Comparing the oscillation phase in optical pump-probe spectra to ultrafast x-ray diffraction in the metal-dielectric SrRuO3/SrTiO3 superlattice}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {85}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {22}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {1098-0121}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.85.224302}, pages = {6}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We measured the ultrafast optical response of metal-dielectric superlattices by broadband all-optical pump-probe spectroscopy. The observed phase of the superlattice mode depends on the probe wavelength, making assignments of the excitation mechanism difficult. Ultrafast x-ray diffraction data reveal the true oscillation phase of the lattice which changes as a function of the excitation fluence. This result is confirmed by the fluence dependence of optical transients. We set up a linear chain model of the lattice dynamics and successfully simulated the broadband optical reflection by unit-cell resolved calculation of the strain-dependent dielectric functions of the constituting materials.}, language = {en} } @article{EnquistNavirianNueskeetal.2010, author = {Enquist, Henrik and Navirian, Hengameh and Nueske, Ralf and von Korff Schmising, Clemens and Jurgilaitis, Andrius and Herzog, Marc and Bargheer, Matias and Sondhauss, Peter and Larsson, Joergen}, title = {Subpicosecond hard x-ray streak camera using single-photon counting}, issn = {0146-9592}, doi = {10.1364/OL.35.003219}, year = {2010}, abstract = {We have developed and characterized a hard x-ray accumulating streak camera that achieves subpicosecond time resolution by using single-photon counting. A high repetition rate of 2 kHz was achieved by use of a readout camera with built-in image processing capabilities. The effects of sweep jitter were removed by using a UV timing reference. The use of single-photon counting allows the camera to reach a high quantum efficiency by not limiting the divergence of the photoelectrons.}, language = {en} } @article{GaalSchickHerzogetal.2012, author = {Gaal, P. and Schick, Daniel and Herzog, Marc and Bojahr, Andre and Shayduk, Roman and Goldshteyn, J. and Navirian, Hengameh A. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Vrejoiu, Ionela and Khakhulin, D. and Wulff, M. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Time-domain sampling of x-ray pulses using an ultrafast sample response}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {101}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {24}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.4769828}, pages = {4}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We employ the ultrafast response of a 15.4 nm thin SrRuO3 layer grown epitaxially on a SrTiO3 substrate to perform time-domain sampling of an x-ray pulse emitted from a synchrotron storage ring. Excitation of the sample with an ultrashort laser pulse triggers coherent expansion and compression waves in the thin layer, which turn the diffraction efficiency on and off at a fixed Bragg angle during 5 ps. This is significantly shorter than the duration of the synchrotron x-ray pulse of 100 ps. Cross-correlation measurements of the ultrafast sample response and the synchrotron x-ray pulse allow to reconstruct the x-ray pulse shape.}, language = {en} } @article{GaalSchickHerzogetal.2014, author = {Gaal, Peter and Schick, Daniel and Herzog, Marc and Bojahr, Andre and Shayduk, Roman and Goldshteyn, Jevgeni and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Vrejoiu, Ionela and Khakhulin, Dmitry and Wulff, Michael and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Ultrafast switching of hard X-rays}, series = {Journal of synchrotron radiation}, volume = {21}, journal = {Journal of synchrotron radiation}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0909-0495}, doi = {10.1107/S1600577513031949}, pages = {380 -- 385}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A new concept for shortening hard X-ray pulses emitted from a third-generation synchrotron source down to few picoseconds is presented. The device, called the PicoSwitch, exploits the dynamics of coherent acoustic phonons in a photo-excited thin film. A characterization of the structure demonstrates switching times of <= 5 ps and a peak reflectivity of similar to 10(-3). The device is tested in a real synchrotron-based pump-probe experiment and reveals features of coherent phonon propagation in a second thin film sample, thus demonstrating the potential to significantly improve the temporal resolution at existing synchrotron facilities.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Herzog2012, author = {Herzog, Marc}, title = {Structural dynamics of photoexcited nanolayered perovskites studied by ultrafast x-ray diffraction}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-62632}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This publication-based thesis represents a contribution to the active research field of ultrafast structural dynamics in laser-excited nanostructures. The investigation of such dynamics is mandatory for the understanding of the various physical processes on microscopic scales in complex materials which have great potentials for advances in many technological applications. I theoretically and experimentally examine the coherent, incoherent and anharmonic lattice dynamics of epitaxial metal-insulator heterostructures on timescales ranging from femtoseconds up to nanoseconds. To infer information on the transient dynamics in the photoexcited crystal lattices experimental techniques using ultrashort optical and x-ray pulses are employed. The experimental setups include table-top sources as well as large-scale facilities such as synchrotron sources. At the core of my work lies the development of a linear-chain model to simulate and analyze the photoexcited atomic-scale dynamics. The calculated strain fields are then used to simulate the optical and x-ray response of the considered thin films and multilayers in order to relate the experimental signatures to particular structural processes. This way one obtains insight into the rich lattice dynamics exhibiting coherent transport of vibrational energy from local excitations via delocalized phonon modes of the samples. The complex deformations in tailored multilayers are identified to give rise to highly nonlinear x-ray diffraction responses due to transient interference effects. The understanding of such effects and the ability to precisely calculate those are exploited for the design of novel ultrafast x-ray optics. In particular, I present several Phonon Bragg Switch concepts to efficiently generate ultrashort x-ray pulses for time-resolved structural investigations. By extension of the numerical models to include incoherent phonon propagation and anharmonic lattice potentials I present a new view on the fundamental research topics of nanoscale thermal transport and anharmonic phonon-phonon interactions such as nonlinear sound propagation and phonon damping. The former issue is exemplified by the time-resolved heat conduction from thin SrRuO3 films into a SrTiO3 substrate which exhibits an unexpectedly slow heat conductivity. Furthermore, I discuss various experiments which can be well reproduced by the versatile numerical models and thus evidence strong lattice anharmonicities in the perovskite oxide SrTiO3. The thesis also presents several advances of experimental techniques such as time-resolved phonon spectroscopy with optical and x-ray photons as well as concepts for the implementation of x-ray diffraction setups at standard synchrotron beamlines with largely improved time-resolution for investigations of ultrafast structural processes. This work forms the basis for ongoing research topics in complex oxide materials including electronic correlations and phase transitions related to the elastic, magnetic and polarization degrees of freedom.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogBojahrGoldshteynetal.2012, author = {Herzog, Marc and Bojahr, Andre and Goldshteyn, J. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Vrejoiu, I. and Khakhulin, D. and Wulff, M. and Shayduk, Roman and Gaal, P. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Detecting optically synthesized quasi-monochromatic sub-terahertz phonon wavepackets by ultrafast x-ray diffraction}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {100}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.3688492}, pages = {4}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We excite an epitaxial SrRuO3 thin film transducer by a pulse train of ultrashort laser pulses, launching coherent sound waves into the underlying SrTiO3 substrate. Synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction (XRD) data exhibiting separated sidebands to the substrate peak evidence the excitation of a quasi-monochromatic phonon wavepacket with sub-THz central frequency. The frequency and bandwidth of this sound pulse can be controlled by the optical pulse train. We compare the experimental data to combined lattice dynamics and dynamical XRD simulations to verify the coherent phonon dynamics. In addition, we observe a lifetime of 130 ps of such sub-THz phonons in accordance with the theory.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogLeitenbergerShayduketal.2010, author = {Herzog, Marc and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Shayduk, Roman and van der Veen, Renske Marjan and Milne, Chris J. and Johnson, Steven Lee and Vrejoiu, Ionela and Alexe, Marin and Hesse, Dietrich and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Ultrafast manipulation of hard x-rays by efficient Bragg switches}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.3402773}, year = {2010}, abstract = {We experimentally demonstrate efficient switching of the hard x-ray Bragg reflectivity of a SrRuO3 /SrTiO3 superlattice by optical excitation of large-amplitude coherent acoustic superlattice phonons. The rocking curve changes drastically on a 1 ps timescale. The (0 0 116) reflection is almost extinguished (Delta R/R-0=-0.91), while the (0 0 118) reflection increases by more than an order of magnitude (Delta R/R-0=24.1). The change of the x-ray structure factor depends nonlinearly on the phonon amplitude, allowing manipulation of the x-ray response on a timescale considerably shorter than the phonon period. Numerical simulations for a superlattice with slightly changed geometry and realistic parameters predict a switching-contrast ratio Delta R/R-0 of 700 with high reflectivity.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogReppertPudelletal.2022, author = {Herzog, Marc and Reppert, Alexander von and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Henkel, Carsten and Kronseder, Matthias and Back, Christian H. and Maznev, Alexei A. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Phonon-dominated energy transport in purely metallic heterostructures}, series = {Advanced functional materials}, volume = {32}, journal = {Advanced functional materials}, number = {41}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1616-301X}, doi = {10.1002/adfm.202206179}, pages = {8}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Ultrafast X-ray diffraction is used to quantify the transport of energy in laser-excited nanoscale gold-nickel (Au-Ni) bilayers. Electron transport and efficient electron-phonon coupling in Ni convert the laser-deposited energy in the conduction electrons within a few picoseconds into a strong non-equilibrium between hot Ni and cold Au phonons at the bilayer interface. Modeling of the subsequent equilibration dynamics within various two-temperature models confirms that for ultrathin Au films, the thermal transport is dominated by phonons instead of conduction electrons because of the weak electron-phonon coupling in Au.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogSchickGaaletal.2012, author = {Herzog, Marc and Schick, Daniel and Gaal, P. and Shayduk, Roman and von Korff Schmising, Clemens and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Analysis of ultrafast X-ray diffraction data in a linear-chain model of the lattice dynamics}, series = {Applied physics : A, Materials science \& processing}, volume = {106}, journal = {Applied physics : A, Materials science \& processing}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0947-8396}, doi = {10.1007/s00339-011-6719-z}, pages = {489 -- 499}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We present ultrafast X-ray diffraction (UXRD) experiments which sensitively probe impulsively excited acoustic phonons propagating in a SrRuO3/SrTiO3 superlattice and further into the substrate. These findings are discussed together with previous UXRD results (Herzog et al. in Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 161906, 2010; Woerner et al. in Appl. Phys. A 96, 83, 2009; v. Korff Schmising in Phys. Rev. B 78, 060404(R), 2008 and in Appl. Phys. B 88, 1, 2007) using a normal-mode analysis of a linear-chain model of masses and springs, thus identifying them as linear-response phenomena. We point out the direct correspondence of calculated observables with X-ray signals. In this framework the complex lattice motion turns out to result from an interference of vibrational eigenmodes of the coupled system of nanolayers and substrate. UXRD in principle selectively measures the lattice motion occurring with a specific wavevector, however, each Bragg reflection only measures the amplitude of a delocalized phonon mode in a spatially localized region, determined by the nanocomposition of the sample or the extinction depth of X-rays. This leads to a decay of experimental signals although the excited modes survive.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogSchickLeitenbergeretal.2012, author = {Herzog, Marc and Schick, Daniel and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Shayduk, Roman and van der Veen, Renske M. and Milne, Christopher J. and Johnson, Steven Lee and Vrejoiu, Ionela and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Tailoring interference and nonlinear manipulation of femtosecond x-rays}, series = {New journal of physics : the open-access journal for physics}, volume = {14}, journal = {New journal of physics : the open-access journal for physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/14/1/013004}, pages = {9}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We present ultrafast x-ray diffraction (UXRD) experiments on different photoexcited oxide superlattices. All data are successfully simulated by dynamical x-ray diffraction calculations based on a microscopic model, that accounts for the linear response of phonons to the excitation laser pulse. Some Bragg reflections display a highly nonlinear strain dependence. The origin of linear and two distinct nonlinear response phenomena is discussed in a conceptually simpler model using the interference of envelope functions that describe the diffraction efficiency of the average constituent nanolayers. The combination of both models facilitates rapid and accurate simulations of UXRD experiments.}, language = {en} } @article{MatternReppertZeuschneretal.2023, author = {Mattern, Maximilian and Reppert, Alexander von and Zeuschner, Steffen Peer and Herzog, Marc and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Concepts and use cases for picosecond ultrasonics with x-rays}, series = {Photoacoustics}, volume = {31}, journal = {Photoacoustics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2213-5979}, doi = {10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100503}, pages = {22}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This review discusses picosecond ultrasonics experiments using ultrashort hard x-ray probe pulses to extract the transient strain response of laser-excited nanoscopic structures from Bragg-peak shifts. This method provides direct, layer-specific, and quantitative information on the picosecond strain response for structures down to few-nm thickness. We model the transient strain using the elastic wave equation and express the driving stress using Gruneisen parameters stating that the laser-induced stress is proportional to energy density changes in the microscopic subsystems of the solid, i.e., electrons, phonons and spins. The laser-driven strain response can thus serve as an ultrafast proxy for local energy-density and temperature changes, but we emphasize the importance of the nanoscale morphology for an accurate interpretation due to the Poisson effect. The presented experimental use cases encompass ultrathin and opaque metal-heterostructures, continuous and granular nanolayers as well as negative thermal expansion materials, that each pose a challenge to established all-optical techniques.}, language = {en} } @article{MatternReppertZeuschneretal.2022, author = {Mattern, Maximilian and Reppert, Alexander von and Zeuschner, Steffen Peer and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and K{\"u}hne, F. and Diesing, Detlef and Herzog, Marc and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Electronic energy transport in nanoscale Au/Fe hetero-structures in the perspective of ultrafast lattice dynamics}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {120}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, number = {9}, publisher = {AIP Publishing}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/5.0080378}, pages = {5}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We study the ultrafast electronic transport of energy in a photoexcited nanoscale Au/Fe hetero-structure by modeling the spatiotemporal profile of energy densities that drives transient strain, which we quantify by femtosecond x-ray diffraction. This flow of energy is relevant for intrinsic demagnetization and ultrafast spin transport. We measured lattice strain for different Fe layer thicknesses ranging from few atomic layers to several nanometers and modeled the spatiotemporal flow of energy densities. The combination of a high electron-phonon coupling coefficient and a large Sommerfeld constant in Fe is found to yield electronic transfer of nearly all energy from Au to Fe within the first hundreds of femtoseconds.}, language = {en} } @article{MorHerzogGolezetal.2017, author = {Mor, Selene and Herzog, Marc and Golez, Denis and Werner, Philipp and Eckstein, Martin and Katayama, Naoyuki and Nohara, Minoru and Takagi, Hide and Mizokawa, Takashi and Monney, Claude and Staehler, Julia}, title = {Ultrafast Electronic Band Gap Control in an Excitonic Insulator}, series = {Physical review letters}, volume = {119}, journal = {Physical review letters}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {0031-9007}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.086401}, pages = {11559 -- 11567}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We report on the nonequilibrium dynamics of the electronic structure of the layered semiconductor Ta2NiSe5 investigated by time-and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. We show that below the critical excitation density of F-C = 0.2 mJ cm(-2), the band gap narrows transiently, while it is enhanced above FC. Hartree-Fock calculations reveal that this effect can be explained by the presence of the low-temperature excitonic insulator phase of Ta2NiSe5, whose order parameter is connected to the gap size. This work demonstrates the ability to manipulate the band gap of Ta2NiSe5 with light on the femtosecond time scale.}, language = {en} } @article{MorHerzogNoacketal.2018, author = {Mor, Selene and Herzog, Marc and Noack, Johannes and Katayama, Naoyuki and Nohara, Minoru and Takagi, Hide and Trunschke, Annette and Mizokawa, Takashi and Monney, Claude and St{\"a}hler, Julia}, title = {Inhibition of the photoinduced structural phase transition in the excitonic insulator Ta2NiSe5}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {97}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, number = {11}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.97.115154}, pages = {5}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Femtosecond time-resolved midinfrared reflectivity is used to investigate the electron and phonon dynamics occurring at the direct band gap of the excitonic insulator Ta2NiSe5 below the critical temperature of its structural phase transition. We find that the phonon dynamics show a strong coupling to the excitation of free carriers at the Gamma point of the Brillouin zone. The optical response saturates at a critical excitation fluence F-C = 0.30 +/- 0.08 mJ/cm(2) due to optical absorption saturation. This limits the optical excitation density in Ta2NiSe5 so that the system cannot be pumped sufficiently strongly to undergo the structural change to the high-temperature phase. We thereby demonstrate that Ta2NiSe5 exhibits a blocking mechanism when pumped in the near-infrared regime, preventing a nonthermal structural phase transition.}, language = {en} } @article{NavirianHerzogGoldshteynetal.2011, author = {Navirian, Hengameh A. and Herzog, Marc and Goldshteyn, J. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Vrejoiu, Ionella and Khakhulin, D. and Wulff, M. and Shayduk, Roman and Gaal, P. and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Shortening x-ray pulses for pump-probe experiments at synchrotrons}, series = {Journal of applied physics}, volume = {109}, journal = {Journal of applied physics}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-8979}, doi = {10.1063/1.3601057}, pages = {3}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We implemented an experimental scheme for ultrafast x-ray diffraction at storage rings based on a laser-driven Bragg-switch that shortens the x-ray pulses emitted from an undulator. The increased time-resolution is demonstrated by observing changes of intensity, position and width of the diffraction peaks of a La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3)/SrTiO(3) superlattice sample after optical excitation, i.e., by quantitatively measuring the propagation of an expansion wave through the sample. These experimental transients with timescales of 35 to 60 ps evidence a reduction of the x-ray pulse duration by a factor of two.}, 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 Reppert, Alexander von 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} } @misc{PudellMaznevHerzogetal.2018, author = {Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Maznev, Alexei and Herzog, Marc and Kronseder, M. and Back, Christian and Malinowski, Gregory and Reppert, Alexander von and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Layer specific observation of slow thermal equilibration in ultrathin metallic nanostructures by femtosecond X-ray diffraction}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {797}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-42623}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-426233}, 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} } @article{PudellReppertSchicketal.2019, author = {Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Reppert, Alexander von and Schick, D. and Zamponi, F. and R{\"o}ssle, Matthias and Herzog, Marc 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} }