Towards massively parallelized all-optical magnetic recording

Abstract

We demonstrate an approach to parallel all-optical writing of magnetic domains using spatial and temporal interference of two ultrashort light pulses. We explore how the fluence and grating periodicity of the optical transient grating influence the size and uniformity of the written bits. Using a total incident optical energy of 3.5 μJ, we demonstrate the capability of simultaneously writing 102 spatially separated bits, each featuring a relevant lateral width of ∼1 μm. We discuss viable routes to extend this technique to write individually addressable, sub-diffraction-limited magnetic domains in a wide range of materials.