Element-selective analysis of ultrafast demagnetization in Co/Pt multilayers exhibiting large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Abstract

We use time-resolved resonant magnetic scattering experiments to investigate the laser induced demagnetization of Co/Pt multilayers with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Our pump-probe approach, which relies on extreme ultraviolet pulses obtained via high-harmonic generation, allows us to monitor the temporal evolution of the system in an element-selective fashion, thus to disentangle the contributions from permanent and proximity-induced magnetic moments. By analyzing the data gathered at the Co M 2, 3 and Pt O3 edges, we are able to show that after femtosecond laser irradiation, both components display a very similar loss of magnetic order, with almost identical demagnetization amplitudes and characteristic times, but a small delay (10-20 fs) of the Pt magnetization quenching with respect to Co. Comparing our experiments with literature results, therefore, suggests that in these 3d-5d multilayers and alloys, the different constituents remain strongly coupled after optical excitation; no matter whether the thin films possess a preferred in-plane or out-of-plane easy magnetization direction.