arXiv subjects

O. Gueckstock

Publications and source records attributed to O. Gueckstock.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observation of Ultrafast Coherent and Incoherent Spin Torques via Terahertz Spin-Hall Magnetoresistance

Spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) is a cornerstone effect in spintronics, enabling the electrical readout of magnetic states through spin-orbit coupling at interfaces. Despite its widespread use, experimental studies of SMR are limited to static (DC) or low-frequency (GHz) regimes, leaving the ultrafast dynamics of interfacial spin transport in the terahertz (THz) frequency window entirely unexplored. Here, we report the observation of SMR spanning from DC to 1.5 THz in the model SMR system YIG/Pt, bridging the divide between electronic transport and THz optics. We demonstrate that the SMR response exhibits a pronounced low-pass behavior, decreasing significantly with frequency and vanishing above 1.5 THz. Through a dynamic model, we reveal that this unexpected spectral decay arises from a fundamental competition between two distinct interfacial spin-magnetization coupling mechanisms: the frequency-independent coherent spin torque, and an incoherent torque mediated by thermal magnons. Our analysis shows that the reduced THz SMR signal reflects the nonzero response time of the magnon chemical potential, which facilitates the increased outflow of incoherent magnons through the interface at high frequencies. These results resolve the microscopic nature of spin-torque generation at ultrafast timescales. Crucially, this work establishes THz SMR as a powerful, non-contact methodology capable of probing spin-magnon coupling in magnetic thin films, providing the essential tool for advancing the next generation of spintronic devices, particularly those based on high-frequency antiferromagnets and emerging altermagnetic materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Spin-to-charge-current conversion in altermagnetic candidate RuO$_2$ probed by terahertz emission spectroscopy

Using the THz emission spectroscopy, we investigate ultrafast spin-to-charge current conversion in epitaxial thin films of the altermagnetic candidate RuO$_2$. We perform a quantitative analysis of competing effects that can contribute to the measured anisotropic THz emission. These include the anisotropic inverse spin splitter and spin Hall effects in RuO$_2$, the anisotropic conductivity of RuO$_2$, and the birefringence of the TiO$_2$ substrate. We observe that the leading contribution to the measured signals comes from the anisotropic inverse spin Hall effect, with an average spin-Hall angle of $2.4\times 10^{-3}$ at room temperature. In comparison, a possible contribution from the altermagnetic inverse spin-splitter effect is found to be approximately $2-4\times 10^{-4}$. Our work stresses the importance of carefully disentangling spin-dependent phenomena that can be generated by the unconventional altermagnetic order, from the effects of the relativistic spin-orbit coupling.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Emission of coherent THz magnons in an antiferromagnetic insulator triggered by ultrafast spin-phonon interactions

Antiferromagnetic materials have been proposed as new types of narrowband THz spintronic devices owing to their ultrafast spin dynamics. Manipulating coherently their spin dynamics, however, remains a key challenge that is envisioned to be accomplished by spin-orbit torques or direct optical excitations. Here, we demonstrate the combined generation of broadband THz (incoherent) magnons and narrowband (coherent) magnons at 1 THz in low damping thin films of NiO/Pt. We evidence, experimentally and through modelling, two excitation processes of magnetization dynamics in NiO, an off-resonant instantaneous optical spin torque and a strain-wave-induced THz torque induced by ultrafast Pt excitation. Both phenomena lead to the emission of a THz signal through the inverse spin Hall effect in the adjacent heavy metal layer. We unravel the characteristic timescales of the two excitation processes found to be < 50 fs and > 300 fs, respectively, and thus open new routes towards the development of fast opto-spintronic devices based on antiferromagnetic materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Laser-induced terahertz spin transport in magnetic nanostructures arises from the same force as ultrafast demagnetization

Laser-induced terahertz spin transport (TST) and ultrafast demagnetization (UDM) are central but so far disconnected phenomena in femtomagnetism and terahertz spintronics. Here, we use broadband terahertz emission spectroscopy to reliably measure both processes in one setup. We find that the rate of UDM of a single ferromagnetic metal film F has the same time evolution as the flux of TST from F into an adjacent normal-metal layer N. This remarkable agreement shows that UDM and TST are driven by the same force, which is fully determined by the state of the ferromagnet. An analytical model consistently and quantitatively explains our observations. It reveals that both UDM in F and TST in the F|N stack arise from a generalized spin voltage, which is defined for arbitrary, nonthermal electron distributions. We also conclude that contributions due to a possible temperature difference between F and N are minor and that the spin-current amplitude can, in principle, be increased by one order of magnitude. In general, our findings allow one to apply the vast knowledge of UDM to TST, thereby opening up new pathways toward large-amplitude terahertz spin currents and, thus, energy-efficient ultrafast spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Femtosecond formation dynamics of the spin Seebeck effect revealed by terahertz spectroscopy

Understanding the transfer of spin angular momentum is essential in modern magnetism research. A model case is the generation of magnons in magnetic insulators by heating an adjacent metal film. Here, we reveal the initial steps of this spin Seebeck effect with <27fs time resolution using terahertz spectroscopy on bilayers of ferrimagnetic yttrium-iron garnet and platinum. Upon exciting the metal with an infrared laser pulse, a spin Seebeck current $j_\textrm{s}$ arises on the same ~100fs time scale on which the metal electrons thermalize. This observation highlights that efficient spin transfer critically relies on carrier multiplication and is driven by conduction electrons scattering off the metal-insulator interface. Analytical modeling shows that the electrons' dynamics are almost instantaneously imprinted onto $j_\textrm{s}$ because their spins have a correlation time of only ~4fs and deflect the ferrimagnetic moments without inertia. Applications in material characterization, interface probing, spin-noise spectroscopy and terahertz spin pumping emerge.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗