Spin-polarized image-potential-state electrons as ultrafast magnetic sensors in front of ferromagnetic surfaces (Weinelt) The combined measurement of linewidth and lifetime or the decay of
quantum beats after coherent excitation of several states in
two-photon photoemission delivers insight to quasielastic and
inelastic electron scattering processes. On ferromagnetic surfaces
these scattering processes include Stoner and electron-magnon
excitations and are thus key ingredients for a fundamental
understanding of ultrafast magnetization processes. Image-state
electrons serve as a well-defined model system for which the
distance in front of the surface, i.e. the probed surface area,
and the lifetime can be varied about an order of magnitude by
choice of the quantum number.
On ferromagnetic surfaces these states are spin split and the
lifetime broadening is spin dependent. The states thus reflect the
exchange-split bulk-band gap boundaries and allow to study
spin-dependent relaxation processes directly from the fs to ps
time scale.
Well-ordered itinerant ferromagnetic films are examined as simple
model systems. Films of different thicknesses allow to vary the
Curie temperature and surface magnetization. The influence of
these parameters on spin-dependent inelastic and elastic
scattering will be addressed. Measurements below and above the
Curie point are used to distinguish between inherent properties of
the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states. This gives the
perspective to study ultrafast demagnetization processes driven by
femtosecond laser pulses. Corresponding experiments are planned in
the second period of this project. | Projektleitung: Prof. Dr. Martin Weinelt, Prof. Dr. Markus Donath
Beteiligte: Dipl.-Phys. Anke Birte Schmidt, Dipl.-Phys. Martin Pickel, Martin Wiemhöfer
Laufzeit: 1.8.2002 - 31.7.2006
Förderer: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Mitwirkende Institutionen: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
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