Ultrafast enhancement of ferromagnetism via photoexcited holes in GaMnAs

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 May 25;98(21):217401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.217401. Epub 2007 May 22.

Abstract

We report on the observation of ultrafast photoenhanced ferromagnetism in GaMnAs. It is manifested as a transient magnetization increase on a 100 ps time scale, after an initial subpicosecond demagnetization. The dynamic magnetization enhancement exhibits a maximum below the Curie temperature T(c) and dominates the demagnetization component when approaching T(c). We attribute the observed ultrafast collective ordering to the p-d exchange interaction between photoexcited holes and Mn spins, leading to a correlation-induced peak around 20 K and a transient increase in T(c).