Minimum Field Strength in Precessional Magnetization Reversal

• DOI: 10.1126/science.285.5429.864
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:37:20Z
• Authors: C. H. Back; R. Allenspach; W. Weber; S. S. P. Parkin; D. Weller; E. L. Garwin; H. C. Siegmann
• Keywords: Picosecond; Orbital magnetization

Ultrafast magnetic field pulses as short 2 picoseconds are able to reverse the magnetization in thin, in-plane, magnetized cobalt films. The applied plane of film, and their direction encompasses all angles with magnetization. At a right angle magnetization, maximum torque is exerted on spins. In this geometry, precessional reversal can be triggered by fields small 184 kiloamperes per meter. Applications future ultrafast recording schemes foreseen.