Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R98990/01
Title:	Optical Orientation and relaxation of spin in metals
Principal Investigator:	Hicken, Professor R
Other Investigators:	Ogrin, Professor FY
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics
Organisation:	University of Exeter
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 February 2003	Ends:	30 April 2005	Value (£):	140,172
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Magnetism/Magnetic Phenomena
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Electronics
Related Grants:	GR/R99904/01
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Control of spin orientation is essential for the operation of magnetoelectronic devices. Following our recent observation of optical orientation and relaxation of spins in aluminium, we propose to study the optical orientation and relaxation of spins in a wider variety metals. The values that we obtain for the spin relaxation time will be of immediate relevance in the interpretation of magnetotransport phenomena. We will also explore whether optical orientation can be used to influence the process of optically induced ultrafast demagnetisation. By optically orienting a small number of spins after a full demagnetisation has been indeuced, we aim to control the direction in which the spontaneous magnetisation recovers. This will be the first demonstration of all-optical ultrafast magnetic switching. We will also make measurements upon multilayered structures in order to explore how ballistic transport of spin-polarised hot electrons between layers affect the efficiency of optical orientation and demagnetisation. These structures will include magnetic tunnel junctions in which a bias voltage can continuously tune the transfer of optically excited hot electrons across the tunnel barrier. By selective removal and injection of spin-polarise hot electrons we will determine the value of the intrinsic demagnetisation time and so test the existing theory of the ultrafast demagnetisation effect.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.ex.ac.uk