Femtosecond magneto-optical processes in metals

Abstract

Ultrafast magneto-optical techniques, using femtosecond laser pulses, are a powerful tool for investigating the magnetization dynamics in metallic materials. We review some recent developments in this field, which allow progress in the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern the magnetization changes in ferromagnetic structures. Some fundamental aspects of the magneto-optical response in the frequency and time domain are first considered. Then, we analyze the dynamics of the charges and spins following the optical excitation of quasiparticles in different ferromagnetic thin films. This dynamics is discussed by considering the processes that are involved in the ultrafast magneto-optical response.