Dr. Stefano Bonetti - Stockholms Universitet

Title: Magnetism at the nanoscale: from nano- to picosecond dynamics

Abstract:

Much of the research in modern magnetism deals with the understanding of how to manipulate the building blocks of magnetic elements, spins, at the highest possible rate with the lowest possible energy consumption.

Such research has direct applied consequences in information technology, but it is also leading to a new understanding of the fundamentals of magnetism.

In this talk, I will discuss our recent experimental results on spin waves dynamics in magnetic metallic thin films. Using the x-rays generated at a synchrotron light source, we have been able to record the first time-resolved images of GHz spin waves at the nanoscale. The unprecedented combined temporal and spatial resolution revealed several intriguing details of the magnetization precession that were not observed in earlier experiments nor expected by theory.

I will conclude the talk moving from ns (GHz) to ps (THz) time-scales.

The recent advances in laser-based single-cycled THz sources are opening up for exciting table-top experiments not only in magnetism, but in the whole condensed matter physics. I will give an overview of recent experimental works which illustrate the fascinating opportunities offered by strong THz radiation, which will become available at Albanova in the next few months.