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THz-radiation generated from interfacial spin-orbit coupling
THz-radiation
(a): Schematic of THz-Radiation generated from ultrafast spin currents via optical pumping. (b): Time-resolved electric field amplitude. (c): Fourier transform of the data in (b) showing the spectral content of the radiation. This signal is significantly larger for samples with a Ag/Bi bilayer compared to control samples with individual layers. (Image by Argonne National Laboratory.)

In a recent study published by Physical Review Letters, researchers in Argonne’s Materials Science division and at the Center for Nanoscale Materials, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility, demonstrate that interfacial spin-orbit coupling and ultrafast spin-charge current transfer can generate THz radiation.

Scientific achievement

Demonstration that interfacial spin-orbit coupling and ultrafast spin-charge current transfer can generate THz radiation.

Significance and impact

Interfacial spin-orbit coupling may lead to spintronics devices and new methods to study ultrafast spin-coupled ultrafast processes at interfaces.

Research details

  • Ultrafast spin currents generated via optical excitation get converted into charge current pulses via interfacial spin-orbit coupling on ps time scales
  • The observation is consistent with expectations from Rashba spin-orbit coupling
  • Circular polarization of the incoming light results in a helicity-dependent rotation of the THz field

DOI: https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​1​0​3​/​P​h​y​s​R​e​v​L​e​t​t​.​1​2​0​.​2​07207

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