Electronic mechanism of sub-100-fs demagnetization induced by a femtosecond light pulse

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kapcia, Konrad J., Tkachenko, Victor, Capotondi, Flavio, Lichtenstein, Alexander, Molodtsov, Serguei, Piekarz, Przemysław, Ziaja, Beata
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Kapcia, Konrad J.
Tkachenko, Victor
Capotondi, Flavio
Lichtenstein, Alexander
Molodtsov, Serguei
Piekarz, Przemysław
Ziaja, Beata
author_facet Kapcia, Konrad J.
Tkachenko, Victor
Capotondi, Flavio
Lichtenstein, Alexander
Molodtsov, Serguei
Piekarz, Przemysław
Ziaja, Beata
contents A quantitative understanding of the processes that trigger light-induced demagnetization on ultrashort timescales is crucial for achieving an ultrafast, radiation-controlled magnetic response in materials. This milestone is essential for developing next-generation magnetic storage devices and ultrafast magnetic switches. In this theoretical study, we investigated demagnetization triggered in a single magnetic domain by light pulses ranging from a few to a few tens of femtoseconds in duration, with photon energies spanning the optical and X-ray regimes, under strongly non-equilibrium conditions. We predicted a loss of magnetization in the sub-100-fs range in all cases, primarily due to the excitation of the electronic system and the subsequent redistribution of electrons within the magneto-sensitive band. The considered timescales were too short for phonon-mediated processes or inter-site Heisenberg exchange processes to contribute significantly. These findings pave the way for highly accurate, radiation-driven magnetization control in magnetic materials at sub-100-femtosecond timescales with potential practical applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_18638
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Electronic mechanism of sub-100-fs demagnetization induced by a femtosecond light pulse
Kapcia, Konrad J.
Tkachenko, Victor
Capotondi, Flavio
Lichtenstein, Alexander
Molodtsov, Serguei
Piekarz, Przemysław
Ziaja, Beata
Materials Science
Other Condensed Matter
Atomic Physics
Computational Physics
Optics
A quantitative understanding of the processes that trigger light-induced demagnetization on ultrashort timescales is crucial for achieving an ultrafast, radiation-controlled magnetic response in materials. This milestone is essential for developing next-generation magnetic storage devices and ultrafast magnetic switches. In this theoretical study, we investigated demagnetization triggered in a single magnetic domain by light pulses ranging from a few to a few tens of femtoseconds in duration, with photon energies spanning the optical and X-ray regimes, under strongly non-equilibrium conditions. We predicted a loss of magnetization in the sub-100-fs range in all cases, primarily due to the excitation of the electronic system and the subsequent redistribution of electrons within the magneto-sensitive band. The considered timescales were too short for phonon-mediated processes or inter-site Heisenberg exchange processes to contribute significantly. These findings pave the way for highly accurate, radiation-driven magnetization control in magnetic materials at sub-100-femtosecond timescales with potential practical applications.
title Electronic mechanism of sub-100-fs demagnetization induced by a femtosecond light pulse
topic Materials Science
Other Condensed Matter
Atomic Physics
Computational Physics
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.18638