Effect of intense x-ray free-electron laser transient gratings on the magnetic domain structure of Tm:YIG

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of intense hard x-ray transient gratings to permanently and locally manipulate magnetic domain patterns in Tm:YIG thin films, offering a new method for nanoscale magnetic control.

Contribution

It introduces a novel technique for local magnetic domain control using high intensity x-ray transient gratings, supported by experimental and micromagnetic simulation insights.

Findings

Magnetic domains in Tm:YIG can be permanently imprinted by x-ray transient gratings.

Micromagnetic simulations qualitatively explain the domain orientation changes.

The method enables local manipulation of magnetic states at the nanoscale.

Abstract

Magnetic patterns can be controlled globally using fields or spin polarized currents. In contrast, the local control of the magnetization on the nanometer length scale remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate how magnetic domain patterns in a Tm-doped yttrium iron garnet (Tm:YIG) thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can be permanently and locally imprinted by high intensity photon pulses of a hard x-ray transient grating (XTG). Micromagnetic simulations provide a qualitative understanding of the observed changes in the orientation of magnetic domains in Tm:YIG and XTG-induced changes. The presented results offer a route for the local manipulation of the magnetic state using hard XTG.