Photoinduced Melting of Antiferromagnetic Order in La_{0.5}Sr_{1.5}MnO_{4} Measured Using Ultrafast Resonant Soft X-Ray Diffraction

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.217401
PMID: 21699341

Authors: H. Ehrke (Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford) , R. Tobey (Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford) , S. Wall (University of Oxford) , S. Cavill (University of York, Diamond Light Source) , M. Foerst (Max-Planck Department for Structural Dynamics, Center for Free Electron Laser Science, University of Hamburg) , V. Khanna (Max Planck Research Department for Structural Dynamics, University of Hamburg-CFEL) , T. Garl (Max Planck Research Department for Structural Dynamics, University of Hamburg-CFEL) , N. Stojanovic (HASYLAB at DESY) , D. Prabhakaran (Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford) , A. Boothroyd (University of Oxford) , M. Gensch (Helmholtzzentrum Berlin) , A. Mirone (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) , P. Reutler (Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie de l’Etat Solide, Centre Université Paris Sud) , A. Revcolevschi (Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie de l’Etat Solide, Centre Université Paris Sud) , S. Dhesi (Diamond Light Source) , A. Cavalleri (University of Oxford)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Physical Review Letters , VOL 106 (21) , PAGES 217401

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2011

Abstract: We used ultrafast resonant soft x-ray diffraction to probe the picosecond dynamics of spin and orbital order in La 0.5 Sr 1.5 MnO 4 after photoexcitation with a femtosecond pulse of 1.5 eV radiation. Complete melting of antiferromagnetic spin order is evidenced by the disappearance of a (14 ,14 ,12 ) diffraction peak. On the other hand, the (14 ,14 ,0) diffraction peak, reflecting orbital order, is only partially reduced. We interpret the results as evidence of destabilization in the short-range exchange pattern with no significant relaxation of the long-range Jahn-Teller distortions. Cluster calculations are used to analyze different possible magnetically ordered states in the long-lived metastable phase. Nonthermal coupling between light and magnetism emerges as a primary aspect of photoinduced phase transitions in manganites.

Journal Keywords: Ultrafast; Melting; Magnetic Order

Subject Areas: Physics, Materials, Chemistry


Instruments: I06-Nanoscience

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