Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission
Abstract The utilization of terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy in femtosecond photoexcited spintronic heterostructures has emerged as a versatile tool for investigating ultrafast spin-transport in a non-contact and non-invasive manner. However, the investigation of ultrafast orbital-transport is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Communications Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02016-1 |
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| author | Haoran Xu Yuhe Yang Zuanming Jin Ping Wang Zheng Feng Ting Wang Wensi Yue Cheng Chen Feng Chen Yiming Zhu Yan Peng Delin Zhang Yong Jiang Songlin Zhuang |
| author_facet | Haoran Xu Yuhe Yang Zuanming Jin Ping Wang Zheng Feng Ting Wang Wensi Yue Cheng Chen Feng Chen Yiming Zhu Yan Peng Delin Zhang Yong Jiang Songlin Zhuang |
| author_sort | Haoran Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The utilization of terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy in femtosecond photoexcited spintronic heterostructures has emerged as a versatile tool for investigating ultrafast spin-transport in a non-contact and non-invasive manner. However, the investigation of ultrafast orbital-transport is still in the primitive stage. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the orbital-to-charge current conversion in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructures. Our experimental results indicate a photoinduced orbital current (J L ) from Co propagating through Zr layer with a long-distance ballistic transport and a velocity of ~ $$0.27$$ 0.27 ± $$0.02 \, {{\rm{nm}}} \, {{{\rm{fs}}}}^{-1}$$ 0.02 nm fs − 1 . On the one hand, we demonstrate a critical pump fluence required to overcome the collisions in orbital transport, enabling a swifter flow of J L . On the other hand, a critical temperature is observed, below which the orbital transport is impeded. Finally, we observe a nearly 2.95-fold enhancement in the THz emission due to an additional conversion of the spin-to-orbital current conversion from a 1 nm thick W-insertion layer between Co and Zr layers. Our results pave the way for designing promising opto-spin-orbitronic devices and THz emitters. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a35de12935ea453b82d65aed6cf5daa8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3650 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-a35de12935ea453b82d65aed6cf5daa82025-08-20T03:40:45ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Physics2399-36502025-03-01811910.1038/s42005-025-02016-1Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emissionHaoran Xu0Yuhe Yang1Zuanming Jin2Ping Wang3Zheng Feng4Ting Wang5Wensi Yue6Cheng Chen7Feng Chen8Yiming Zhu9Yan Peng10Delin Zhang11Yong Jiang12Songlin Zhuang13Terahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologySchool of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong UniversityTerahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyInstitute of Quantum Materials and Devices, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tiangong UniversityMicrosystem & Terahertz Research Center, CAEPSchool of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong UniversityInstitute of Quantum Materials and Devices, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tiangong UniversityInstitute of Quantum Materials and Devices, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tiangong UniversitySchool of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong UniversityTerahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyTerahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologySchool of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong UniversitySchool of Material Science and Engineering, Tiangong UniversityTerahertz Technology Innovation Research Institute, Terahertz Spectrum and Imaging Technology Cooperative Innovation Center, Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyAbstract The utilization of terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy in femtosecond photoexcited spintronic heterostructures has emerged as a versatile tool for investigating ultrafast spin-transport in a non-contact and non-invasive manner. However, the investigation of ultrafast orbital-transport is still in the primitive stage. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the orbital-to-charge current conversion in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructures. Our experimental results indicate a photoinduced orbital current (J L ) from Co propagating through Zr layer with a long-distance ballistic transport and a velocity of ~ $$0.27$$ 0.27 ± $$0.02 \, {{\rm{nm}}} \, {{{\rm{fs}}}}^{-1}$$ 0.02 nm fs − 1 . On the one hand, we demonstrate a critical pump fluence required to overcome the collisions in orbital transport, enabling a swifter flow of J L . On the other hand, a critical temperature is observed, below which the orbital transport is impeded. Finally, we observe a nearly 2.95-fold enhancement in the THz emission due to an additional conversion of the spin-to-orbital current conversion from a 1 nm thick W-insertion layer between Co and Zr layers. Our results pave the way for designing promising opto-spin-orbitronic devices and THz emitters.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02016-1 |
| spellingShingle | Haoran Xu Yuhe Yang Zuanming Jin Ping Wang Zheng Feng Ting Wang Wensi Yue Cheng Chen Feng Chen Yiming Zhu Yan Peng Delin Zhang Yong Jiang Songlin Zhuang Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission Communications Physics |
| title | Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| title_full | Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| title_fullStr | Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| title_short | Generation and manipulation of light-induced orbital transport in Co/Zr/Al2O3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| title_sort | generation and manipulation of light induced orbital transport in co zr al2o3 heterostructure probed with ultrafast terahertz emission |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02016-1 |
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