arXiv subjects

Jürgen Henk

Publications and source records attributed to Jürgen Henk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Unified Theoretical Framework for Photoemission and Its Inverse: Reciprocity, Spin, and Photon Polarization

We present a unified theoretical framework for spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SARPES) and its inverse process (SARIPES), treating both on an equal footing. The formulation is based on a response tensor that encodes the reciprocity between the two processes. We show that polarization tomography within SARPES calculations provides a systematic route for reconstructing the tensor elements. The number of independent components is significantly reduced by symmetry constraints, which in turn allows for explicit expressions describing spin-reversal processes and intensity modulations. The formalism is illustrated for the W(110) surface. The resulting framework provides a symmetry-adapted description of spin-dependent optical transitions at surfaces and enables the direct prediction of SARIPES intensities from SARPES calculations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Nonlinear spin and orbital Rashba-Edelstein effects induced by a femtosecond laser pulse: Simulations for Au(001)

Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling gives rise to distinctive surface and interface phenomena, such as spin-momentum locking and spin splitting. In nonequilibrium settings, one of the key manifestations is the (Rashba-)Edelstein effect, where an electric current generates a net spin or orbital polarization perpendicular to the current direction. While the steady-state behavior of these effects is well studied, their dynamics on ultrafast timescales remain largely unexplored. In this work, we present a theoretical investigation of the ultrafast spin and orbital Edelstein effects on an Au(001) surface, triggered by excitation with a femtosecond laser pulse. These effects are intrinsic and inherently nonlinear. Using a real-space tight-binding model combined with time evolution governed by the von Neumann equation, we simulate the electron dynamics in response to the pulse. Our results reveal pronounced differences between the spin and orbital responses, offering detailed insights into their distinct temporal profiles and magnitudes. We further explore the associated charge, spin, and orbital currents, including the emergence of laser-induced spin and orbital Hall effects. Finally, we quantify the angular momentum transfer mediated by the light-matter interaction. These findings shed light on the intricate ultrafast dynamics driven by spin-orbit coupling and offer guidance for the design of next-generation spintronic and orbitronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Exploring Quantum Entanglement: A Hands-on Course on Spin Dynamics and Entanglement Transfer with Python Modules

Quantum entanglement is a captivating phenomenon in quantum physics, characterized by intricate and non-classical correlations between particles. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in quantum computing and measurement processes. In this hands-on course students explore the dynamics of quantum systems with up to three spins, introducing the fundamental mechanisms by which entanglement evolves and transfers within such systems. Through detailed examples, simulations, and analyses, the hands-on course offers insights into the fundamental principles of entanglement. The provided \code{python} modules reproduce the presented results and serve as a basis for further projects. The target audience of this hands-on course is physics enthusiasts among students in their first semesters.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2025

Enhanced magnetic dichroism in darkfield UV photoemission electron microscopy

Photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) has evolved into an indispensable tool for structural and magnetic characterization of surfaces at the nanometer scale. In strong contrast to synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray PEEM as a leading method for element-specific magnetic properties via magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), laboratory ultraviolet (UV) PEEM has seen limited application with much smaller dichroism effects for in-plane magnetization. Here we introduce darkfield PEEM as a novel approach to enhance MCD contrast in threshold photoemission, enabling efficient MCD imaging with significantly enhanced contrast by an order-of-magnitude for Fe(001). This advancement paves the way for MCD imaging on femtosecond timescales using modern lasers. The experimental results will be quantitatively benchmarked against advanced relativistic photoemission calculations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Scattering makes a difference in circular dichroic angle-resolved photoemission

Recent years have witnessed a steady progress towards blending 2D quantum materials into technology, with future applications often rooted in the electronic structure. Since crossings and inversions of electronic bands with different orbital characters determine intrinsic quantum transport properties, knowledge of the orbital character is essential. Here, we benchmark angle-resolved photoelectron emission spectroscopy (ARPES) as a tool to experimentally derive orbital characters. For this purpose we study the valence electronic structure of two technologically relevant quantum materials, graphene and WSe$_2$, and focus on circular dichroism that is believed to provide sensitivity to the orbital angular momentum. We analyze the contributions related to angular atomic photoionization profiles, interatomic interference, and multiple scattering. Regimes in which initial-state properties could be disentangled from the ARPES maps are critically discussed and the potential of using circular-dichroic ARPES as a tool to investigate the spin polarization of initial bands is explored. For the purpose of generalization, results from two additional materials, GdMn$_6$Sn$_6$ and PtTe$_2$ are presented in addition. This research demonstrates rich complexity of the underlying physics of circular-dichroic ARPES, providing new insights that will shape the interpretation of both past and future circular-dichroic ARPES studies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Spin and orbital Edelstein effect in a bilayer system with Rashba interaction

The spin Edelstein effect has proven to be a promising phenomenon to generate spin polarization from a charge current in systems without inversion symmetry. In recent years, a current-induced orbital magnetization, called orbital Edelstein effect, has been predicted for various systems with broken inversion symmetry, using the atom-centered approximation and the modern theory of orbital magnetization. In this work, we study the current-induced spin and orbital magnetization for a bilayer system with Rashba interaction, using the modern theory of orbital magnetization and Boltzmann transport theory in relaxation-time approximation. We found that the orbital effect can be significantly larger than the spin effect, depending on the model parameters. Furthermore, the Edelstein response can be enhanced, suppressed, and even reversed, depending on the relation of the effective Rashba parameters of each layer. A sign change of the orbital polarization is related to an interchange of the corresponding layer localization of the states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Electrical Activity of Topological Chiral Edge Magnons

Topological magnon insulators support chiral edge excitations, whose lack of electric charge makes them notoriously difficult to detect experimentally. We show that relativistic magnetoelectric coupling universally renders chiral edge magnons electrically active, thereby facilitating electrical probes of magnon topology. Considering a two-dimensional out-of-plane magnetized topological magnon insulator, we predict a fluctuation-activated electric polarization perpendicular to the sample edges. Furthermore, the chiral topological electromagnons give rise to a unique in-gap signal in electrical absorption experiments. These results suggest THz spectroscopy as a promising probe for topological magnons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Ultrafast Orbital Hall Effect in Metallic Nanoribbons

The orbital Hall effect can generate currents of angular momentum more efficiently than the spin Hall effect in most metals. However, so far, it has only been understood as a steady state phenomenon. In this theoretical study, the orbital Hall effect is extended into the time domain. We investigate the orbital angular momenta and their currents induced by a femtosecond laser pulse in a Cu nanoribbon. Our numerical simulations provide detailed insights into the laser-driven electron dynamics on ultrashort timescales with atomic resolution. The ultrafast orbital Hall effect described in this work is consistent with the familiar pictorial representation of the static orbital Hall effect, but we also find pronounced differences between physical quantities that carry orbital angular momentum and those that carry charge. For example, there are deviations in the time series of the respective currents. This study lays the foundations for investigating ultrafast Hall effects in confined metallic systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Ultrafast Dynamics of Orbital Angular Momentum of Electrons Induced by Femtosecond Laser Pulses: Generation and Transfer Across Interfaces

The orbital angular momenta (OAM) of electrons play an increasingly important role in ultrafast electron and magnetization dynamics. In this theoretical study, we investigate the electron dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulses in a normal metal, a ferromagnet, and a ferromagnet/normal metal heterostructure. We analyze the spatio-temporal distributions of the laser-induced OAM and their respective currents. Our findings demonstrate that a circularly polarized laser pulse can induce a sizable and long-lasting OAM component in a normal metal. Furthermore, an interface between a ferromagnet and a normal metal facilitates the demagnetization of the magnet by the OAM contribution to the total magnetization. Finally, to transfer OAM from a ferromagnet into a normal metal, it is advantageous to use a laser setup that induces the desired OAM component in the ferromagnet, but not in the normal metal.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Ultrafast dynamics of electrons excited by femtosecond laser pulses: spin polarization and spin-polarized currents

Laser radiation incident on a ferromagnetic sample produces excited electrons and currents whose spin polarization must not be aligned with the magnetization -- an effect due to spin-orbit coupling that is ubiquitous in spin- and angle-resolved photoemission. In this Paper, we report on a systematic investigation of the dynamics of spin polarization and spin-polarized currents produced by femtosecond laser pulses, modeled within our theoretical framework EVOLVE. The spin polarization depends strongly on the properties of the laser pulse and on the sample composition, as is shown by comparing results for Cu(100), Co(100), and a Co/Cu heterostructure. We find a transition from coherence before the laser pulse's maximum to incoherence thereafter. Moreover, the time dependence of the spin-polarization components induced by spin-orbit coupling differ significantly in Cu and Co: in Cu, we find long-period oscillations with tiny rapid modulations, whereas in Co prominent rapid oscillations with long period ones are superimposed. The pronounced spatial dependencies of the signals underline the importance of inhomogeneities, in particular magnetic/non-magnetic interfaces `act as source' for ultrafast spin-polarization effects. Our investigation provides detailed insight into electron dynamics during and shortly after a femtosecond laser excitation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Ultrafast spin dynamics: complementing theoretical analyses by quantum-information measures

Theoretical analyses of ultrafast spin dynamics commonly address and discuss simulated phenomena by means of observables, whereas in quantum information theory one often utilizes measures of quantum states. In this Paper we report on possible benefits of quantum information measures in simulations of ultrafast spin dynamics. For Co/Cu heterostructures illuminated by femtosecond laser pulses, we discuss the general behaviour of quantum information measures, in particular distances in Hilbert space and degrees of mixing in the density matrix. The measures are in particular sensitive to variations of the polarization of a laser pulse and the sample composition. Moreover, they are closely related to magnetization and number of excited electrons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Thermal Hall effect of magnons in collinear antiferromagnetic insulators: signatures of magnetic and topological phase transitions

We demonstrate theoretically that the thermal Hall effect of magnons in collinear antiferromagnetic insulators is an indicator of magnetic and topological phase transitions in the magnon spectrum. The transversal heat current of magnons caused by a thermal gradient is calculated for an antiferromagnet on a honeycomb lattice. An applied magnetic field drives the system from the antiferromagnetic phase via a spin-flop phase into the field-polarized phase. Besides these magnetic phase transitions we find topological phase transitions within the spin-flop phase. Both types of transitions manifest themselves in prominent and distinguishing features in the thermal conductivities; depending on the temperature, the conductivity changes by several orders of magnitude, providing a tool to discern experimentally the two types of phase transitions. We include numerical results for the van der Waals magnet MnPS$_3$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Ultrafast spin dynamics in inhomogeneous systems: a density-matrix approach applied to Co/Cu interfaces

Ultrafast spin dynamics on femto- to picosecond timescales is simulated within a density-operator approach for a Co/Cu bilayer. The electronic structure is represented in a tight-binding form; during the evolution of the density operator, optical excitation by a femtosecond laser pulse, coupling to a bosonic bath as well as dephasing are taken into account. Our simulations corroborate the importance of interfaces for ultrafast transport phenomena and demagnetisation processes. Moreover, we establish a reflow from Cu $d$ orbitals across the interface into Co $d$ orbitals, which shows up prominently in the mean occupation numbers. On top of this, this refilling manifests itself as a minority-spin current proceeding several layers into the Cu region. The present study suggests that the approach captures essential ultrafast phenomena and provides insight into microscopic processes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Spin and orbital Edelstein effect in an oxide two-dimensional electron gas: theory and application to AlO$_x$/SrTiO$_{3}$

The Edelstein effect provides the purely electrical generation and control of a homogeneous magnetization in primarily nonmagnetic materials with broken inversion symmetry. Usually, only the spin density response to an external electric field is discussed. Here, we report on the electrically induced magnetization containing spin as well as orbital contributions in the topological oxide two-dimensional electron gas at the interface between SrTiO$_3$ and AlO. We find that in this particular system the orbital Edelstein effect exceeds the spin Edelstein effect by more than one order of magnitude. The main reason are orbital moments of different magnitude in the Rashba-like-split band pairs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Orbital Magnetic Moment of Magnons

In experiments and applications usually the spin magnetic moment of magnons is considered. In this Paper we identify an additional degree of freedom of magnons: an \emph{orbital} magnetic moment brought about by spin-orbit coupling.Our microscopic theory uncovers that spin magnetization $\vec{M}^\mathrm{S}$ and orbital magnetization $\vec{M}^\mathrm{O}$ are independent quantities. They are not necessarily collinear; thus, even when the total spin moment is compensated due to antiferromagnetism ($\vec{M}^\mathrm{S} = \vec{0}$), $\vec{M}^\mathrm{O}$ may be nonzero. This scenario of orbital weak ferromagnetism is realized in paradigmatic kagome antiferromagnets with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. We demonstrate that magnets exhibiting a magnonic orbital moment are omnipresent and propose transport experiments for probing it.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Compensated Quantum and Topological Hall Effects of Electrons in Polyatomic Stripe Lattices

The quantum Hall effect is generally understood for free electron gases, in which topologically protected edge states between Landau levels (LLs) form conducting channels at the edge of the sample. In periodic crystals, the LLs are imprinted with lattice properties; plateaus in the transverse Hall conductivity are not equidistant in energy anymore. Herein, crystals with a polyatomic basis are considered. For a stripe arrangement of different atoms, the band structure resorts nontrivially and exhibits strong oscillations that form a salient pattern with very small bandgaps. The Hall conductivity strongly decreases for energies within these bands, and only sharp peaks remain for energies in the gap. These effects are traced back to open orbits in the initial band structure; the corresponding LLs are formed from states with positive and negative effective mass. The partial cancellation of transverse charge conductivity also holds for different polyatomic stripe lattices and even when the magnetic field is replaced by a topologically nontrivial spin texture. The topological Hall effect is suppressed in the presence of magnetic skyrmions. The discussion is complemented by calculations of Hofstadter butterflies and orbital magnetization.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Origin of the Magnetic Spin Hall Effect: Spin Current Vorticity in the Fermi Sea

The interplay of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and magnetism gives rise to a plethora of charge-to-spin conversion phenomena that harbor great potential for spintronics applications. In addition to the spin Hall effect, magnets may exhibit a magnetic spin Hall effect (MSHE), as was recently discovered [Kimata \textit{et al.}, Nature \textbf{565}, 627-630 (2019)]. To date, the MSHE is still awaiting its intuitive explanation. Here we relate the MSHE to the vorticity of spin currents in the Fermi sea, which explains pictorially the origin of the MSHE. For all magnetic Laue groups that allow for nonzero spin current vorticities the related tensor elements of the MSH conductivity are given. Minimal requirements for the occurrence of a MSHE are compatibility with either a magnetization or a magnetic toroidal quadrupole. This finding implies in particular that the MSHE is expected in all ferromagnets with sufficiently large SOC. To substantiate our symmetry analysis, we present various models, in particular a two-dimensional magnetized Rashba electron gas, that corroborate an interpretation by means of spin current vortices. Considering thermally induced spin transport and the magnetic spin Nernst effect in magnetic insulators, which are brought about by magnons, our findings for electron transport can be carried over to the realm of spincaloritronics, heat-to-spin conversion, and energy harvesting.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Forming individual magnetic biskyrmions by merging two skyrmions in a centrosymmetric nanodisk

When two magnetic skyrmions - whirl-like, topologically protected quasiparticles - form a bound pair, a biskyrmion state with a topological charge of $N_\mathrm{Sk}=\pm 2$ is constituted. Recently, especially the case of two partially overlapping skyrmions has brought about great research interest. Since for its formation the individual skyrmions need to posses opposite in-plane magnetizations, such a biskyrmion cannot be stabilized by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-interaction (DMI), which is the interaction that typically stabilizes skyrmions in non-centrosymmetric materials and at interfaces. Here, we show that these biskyrmions can be stabilized by the dipole-dipole interaction in centrosymmetric materials in which the DMI is forbidden. Analytical considerations indicate that the bound state of a biskyrmion is energetically preferable over two individual skyrmions. As a result, when starting from two skyrmions in a micromagnetic simulation, a biskyrmion is formed upon relaxation. We propose a scheme that allows to control this biskyrmion formation in nanodisks and analyze the individual steps.

cond-mat.str-el↗