Photoinduced spin angular momentum transfer into an antiferromagnetic insulator

Abstract

Spin angular momentum transfer into an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator is observed in a single-crystalline Fe/CoO/MgO(001) heterostructure by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. The transfer process is mediated by the Heisenberg exchange coupling between Fe and CoO spins. Spin angular momentum transfer to ordered AFM spins is independent of the external magnetic field and enhances the spin precession damping in Fe, which remains nearly invariant with temperature.