Tunnel-Barrier-Engineered Ultrafast Demagnetization and Spin Transport in Graphene-Based Heterostructures

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Mukhopadhyay, Suchetana, Muradas-Belinchon, David, Foggetti, Francesco, Oppeneer, Peter M., Kamalakar, M. Venkata, Barman, Anjan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Mukhopadhyay, Suchetana
Muradas-Belinchon, David
Foggetti, Francesco
Oppeneer, Peter M.
Kamalakar, M. Venkata
Barman, Anjan
author_facet Mukhopadhyay, Suchetana
Muradas-Belinchon, David
Foggetti, Francesco
Oppeneer, Peter M.
Kamalakar, M. Venkata
Barman, Anjan
contents Heterostructures combining graphene with 3d transition metal ferromagnets (FMs) enable various spin-based phenomena at ultrafast timescales. However, challenges such as the interfacial impedance mismatch, FM deposition-induced defect generation, and interface modification by interfacial coupling or hybridization can impede their functionalization for spin-orbitronics. In this work, we utilize insulating TiOx barrier layers (BLs) to modify the interfacial spin conductance structurally, disentangle spin pumping and magnetic proximity effects (MPE), and establish external control over ultrafast magnetization dynamics in single-layer graphene/TiOx/Co systems. All-optical time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements of femtosecond to nanosecond spin dynamics reveal systematic tunability of ultrafast magnetic parameters via barrier engineering. The thickness-dependent damping modulation in Co indicates strong spin pumping, with interfacial spin transparency close to half its physical limit in the presence of an ultrathin BL, where MPE is eliminated. Our results show that appropriately chosen ultrathin BLs can prevent interfacial alterations from ferromagnetic metals, facilitating efficient spin detection in graphene and enhancing control over spin angular momentum dissipation in graphene/FM interfaces.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_09284
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Tunnel-Barrier-Engineered Ultrafast Demagnetization and Spin Transport in Graphene-Based Heterostructures
Mukhopadhyay, Suchetana
Muradas-Belinchon, David
Foggetti, Francesco
Oppeneer, Peter M.
Kamalakar, M. Venkata
Barman, Anjan
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Heterostructures combining graphene with 3d transition metal ferromagnets (FMs) enable various spin-based phenomena at ultrafast timescales. However, challenges such as the interfacial impedance mismatch, FM deposition-induced defect generation, and interface modification by interfacial coupling or hybridization can impede their functionalization for spin-orbitronics. In this work, we utilize insulating TiOx barrier layers (BLs) to modify the interfacial spin conductance structurally, disentangle spin pumping and magnetic proximity effects (MPE), and establish external control over ultrafast magnetization dynamics in single-layer graphene/TiOx/Co systems. All-optical time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements of femtosecond to nanosecond spin dynamics reveal systematic tunability of ultrafast magnetic parameters via barrier engineering. The thickness-dependent damping modulation in Co indicates strong spin pumping, with interfacial spin transparency close to half its physical limit in the presence of an ultrathin BL, where MPE is eliminated. Our results show that appropriately chosen ultrathin BLs can prevent interfacial alterations from ferromagnetic metals, facilitating efficient spin detection in graphene and enhancing control over spin angular momentum dissipation in graphene/FM interfaces.
title Tunnel-Barrier-Engineered Ultrafast Demagnetization and Spin Transport in Graphene-Based Heterostructures
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.09284