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Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra excited at the oxygen K edge of CO2 are presented and discussed. Although excitation from a gerade initial state to the intermediate 1s-1π* state breaks the inversion symmetry due to strong vibronic coupling, RIXS excited at the corresponding resonance exclusively populates gerade vibrations in the gerade electronic ground state. This observation constitutes an experimental confirmation of the prediction that the parity selection rule applies in RIXS on an inversion-symmetric polyatomic system, provided that the total electronic-vibronic wave function is considered. Parity selectivity is used for assigning spectra to the population of electronically excited final states, a procedure hampered only when symmetry-breaking vibronic coupling in the final states is prominent. A RIXS spectrum excited in the Rydberg region is tentatively assigned using a simplified quasi-two-step model in which it is assumed that the electron in the Rydberg orbital excited in the first step remains as a spectator during the second decay step.

The temperature dependent dehydrogenation of naphthalene on Ni(111) has been investigated using vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory with the aim of discerning the reaction mechanism and the intermediates on the surface. At 110 K, multiple layers of naphthalene adsorb on Ni(111); the first layer is a flat lying chemisorbed monolayer, whereas the next layer(s) consist of physisorbed naphthalene. The aromaticity of the carbon rings in the first layer is reduced due to bonding to the surface Ni-atoms. Heating at 200 K causes desorption of the multilayers. At 360 K, the chemisorbed naphthalene monolayer starts dehydrogenating and the geometry of the molecules changes as the dehydrogenated carbon atoms coordinate to the nickel surface; thus, the molecule tilts with respect to the surface, recovering some of its original aromaticity. This effect peaks at 400 K and coincides with hydrogen desorption. Increasing the temperature leads to further dehydrogenation and production of H-2 gas, as well as the formation of carbidic and graphitic surface carbon. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

In this progress report we describe several design improvements that have been implemented at the HELIOS laboratory, as well as presenting the output characteristics that have been measured as a result. The main focus will be on the redesign of the gas cell, which has enhanced the photon flux of the XUV probe beam. Also, a frequency trippler utilizing sum frequency generation has been installed at the end of the pump line, which increases the photon flux available for both 3.1 eV (400 nm) and 4.66 eV (266 nm) applications without significant increment in the pulse width of the pump.

In this paper, we present a spectrometer that is designed for element-specific and time-resolved transverse magneto-optic Kerr effect experiments at the high-harmonic generation pump-probe facility High Energy Laser Induced Overtone Source (HELIOS) laboratory. HELIOS delivers photons with energies between 30 eV and 72 eV with an overall time resolution of less than 40 fs. The spectrometer is based on a Rowland-circle geometry and allows for simultaneous measurements of all magnetic transition-metal elements. The setup also features easy sample transfer and alignment, and it combines high photon throughput, optimized data acquisition, and a fast switching of the magnetic field at the sample. The spectrometer performance is demonstrated by measuring the ultrafast demagnetization of permalloy. Our data are, for all practical purposes, identical to what have been reported in the earlier high-order harmonic generation work of a similar sample by Mathias et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109, 4792-4797 (2012)], however, obtained within 15% of the acquisition time compared to their study. Furthermore, our data show a shift of the demagnetization curve of Ni relative to Fe, which has previously been interpreted as a delay of the Ni demagnetization to that of Fe [S. Mathias et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 109, 4792-4797 (2012)].

We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy Co2FeAl,probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. Experimental results are compared to resultsfrom electronic structure theory and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations. Experimentally, we findthat the demagnetization time (τM) in films of Co2FeAl is almost independent of varying structuralorder, and that it is similar to that in elemental 3d ferromagnets. In contrast, the slower processof magnetization recovery, specified byτR, is found to occur on picosecond time scales, and isdemonstrated to correlate strongly with the Gilbert damping parameter (α). Our results showthat Co2FeAl is unique, in that it is the first material that clearly demonstrates the importance ofthe damping parameter in the remagnetization process. Based on these results we argue that for Co2FeAl the remagnetization process is dominated by magnon dynamics, something which mighthave general applicabilit

We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy Co2FeAl,probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. Experimental results are compared to resultsfrom electronic structure theory and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations. Experimentally, we findthat the demagnetization time (τM) in films of Co2FeAl is almost independent of varying structuralorder, and that it is similar to that in elemental 3d ferromagnets. In contrast, the slower processof magnetization recovery, specified byτR, is found to occur on picosecond time scales, and isdemonstrated to correlate strongly with the Gilbert damping parameter (α). Our results showthat Co2FeAl is unique, in that it is the first material that clearly demonstrates the importance ofthe damping parameter in the remagnetization process. Based on these results we argue that for Co2FeAl the remagnetization process is dominated by magnon dynamics, something which mighthave general applicabilit

Soft magnetic FeCo alloys are of great interest due to their potential spintronics applications. The magnetic damping parameter plays a vital role in the performance of these spintronics devices. The Gilbert damping parameter increase in these alloys with doping of 5d elements. Here, we have investigated the effect of Re doping on the element-specific magnetization dynamics of Ru/Fe65Co35/Ru thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. When varying the concentration of Re from 0 to 12.6 %, no change of the demagnetization time constant is observed. However, a gradual change of the remagnetization time is observed with the increase of Re concentration. This remagnetization dynamics can be related to the Gilbert damping parameter of these films. An interesting time-resolved dynamics at the Ru-edge is observed. A significant increase (40%) of the asymmetry signal is observed for the undoped sample and drops down with the Re doping. This effect is possibly a super diffusive spin current going from the magnetic layer to the non magnetic capping layer.

NiFe2O4 shows complex dynamics between its elements after an ultrashort laser pulse excitation. The reflectivity shows oscillations, indicating either a reordering of the charge distribution several picoseconds after absorption of the laser pulse or a coherent phonon mode with a frequency of 0.5 THz. Also, the magnetic asymmetry exhibits oscillations that cannot be attributed to transverse magnetic excitations (magnons) but correspond to longitudinal excitations. The demagnetization shows different behavior depending on the excitation photon energy, for energies close to the band gap (1.55 eV) oscillations in the asymmetry are prominent, while for higher energies (3.1 eV) the demagnetization becomes dominant and the oscillations vanish. A fast demagnetization is observed when using 3.1 eV compared to 1.55 eV, while the electronic response remains similar, which indicates that the fast demagnetization dynamics is driven by holes created deeper in the valence band while the dynamics of electrons excited to d-states in the conduction band provides a smaller contribution to the demagnetization.The oscillations in the asymmetry can be a consequence of the competing exchange interactions that are antiferromagnetic between all three sublattices, but where a ferromagnetic alignment between octahedral Ni and octahedral Fe is the ground state.

By employing element specific ultrafast spectroscopy in Fe1-xNix alloys alloys, we find a composition dependent effect in the demagnetization that we relate to changes in electron-magnon scattering. In all six measured alloys of different composition, the demagnetization of Ni compared to Fe exhibits a delay, an effect which we find is inherent in alloys but not in elemental Fe and Ni. Using a model based on electron-magnon scattering, we extract a spin-wave stiffness from all alloys that show excellent agreement with values obtained from other techniques. The result establishes the atom-specific sd-exchange induced magnon generation as an underlying mechanism during ultrafast demagnetization in Fe1-xNix alloys

We report on optically induced, ultrafast magnetization dynamics in the Heusler alloy Co2FeAl,probed by time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. Experimental results are compared to resultsfrom electronic structure theory and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations. Experimentally, we findthat the demagnetization time (τM) in films of Co2FeAl is almost independent of varying structuralorder, and that it is similar to that in elemental 3d ferromagnets. In contrast, the slower processof magnetization recovery, specified byτR, is found to occur on picosecond time scales, and isdemonstrated to correlate strongly with the Gilbert damping parameter (α). Our results showthat Co2FeAl is unique, in that it is the first material that clearly demonstrates the importance ofthe damping parameter in the remagnetization process. Based on these results we argue that for Co2FeAl the remagnetization process is dominated by magnon dynamics, something which mighthave general applicabilit

Soft magnetic FeCo alloys are of great interest due to their potential spintronics applications. The magnetic damping parameter plays a vital role in the performance of these spintronics devices. The Gilbert damping parameter increase in these alloys with doping of 5d elements. Here, we have investigated the effect of Re doping on the element-specific magnetization dynamics of Ru/Fe65Co35/Ru thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. When varying the concentration of Re from 0 to 12.6 %, no change of the demagnetization time constant is observed. However, a gradual change of the remagnetization time is observed with the increase of Re concentration. This remagnetization dynamics can be related to the Gilbert damping parameter of these films. An interesting time-resolved dynamics at the Ru-edge is observed. A significant increase (40%) of the asymmetry signal is observed for the undoped sample and drops down with the Re doping. This effect is possibly a super diffusive spin current going from the magnetic layer to the non magnetic capping layer.

Soft magnetic FeCo alloys are of great interest due to their potential spintronics applications. The magnetic damping parameter plays a vital role in the performance of these spintronics devices. The Gilbert damping parameter increase in these alloys with doping of 5d elements. Here, we have investigated the effect of Re doping on the element-specific magnetization dynamics of Ru/Fe65Co35/Ru thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. When varying the concentration of Re from 0 to 12.6 %, no change of the demagnetization time constant is observed. However, a gradual change of the remagnetization time is observed with the increase of Re concentration. This remagnetization dynamics can be related to the Gilbert damping parameter of these films. An interesting time-resolved dynamics at the Ru-edge is observed. A significant increase (40%) of the asymmetry signal is observed for the undoped sample and drops down with the Re doping. This effect is possibly a super diffusive spin current going from the magnetic layer to the non magnetic capping layer.

Soft magnetic FeCo alloys are of great interest due to their potential spintronics applications. The magnetic damping parameter plays a vital role in the performance of these spintronics devices. The Gilbert damping parameter increase in these alloys with doping of 5d elements. Here, we have investigated the effect of Re doping on the element-specific magnetization dynamics of Ru/Fe65Co35/Ru thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. When varying the concentration of Re from 0 to 12.6 %, no change of the demagnetization time constant is observed. However, a gradual change of the remagnetization time is observed with the increase of Re concentration. This remagnetization dynamics can be related to the Gilbert damping parameter of these films. An interesting time-resolved dynamics at the Ru-edge is observed. A significant increase (40%) of the asymmetry signal is observed for the undoped sample and drops down with the Re doping. This effect is possibly a super diffusive spin current going from the magnetic layer to the non magnetic capping layer.

Soft magnetic FeCo alloys are of great interest due to their potential spintronics applications. The magnetic damping parameter plays a vital role in the performance of these spintronics devices. The Gilbert damping parameter increase in these alloys with doping of 5d elements. Here, we have investigated the effect of Re doping on the element-specific magnetization dynamics of Ru/Fe65Co35/Ru thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. When varying the concentration of Re from 0 to 12.6 %, no change of the demagnetization time constant is observed. However, a gradual change of the remagnetization time is observed with the increase of Re concentration. This remagnetization dynamics can be related to the Gilbert damping parameter of these films. An interesting time-resolved dynamics at the Ru-edge is observed. A significant increase (40%) of the asymmetry signal is observed for the undoped sample and drops down with the Re doping. This effect is possibly a super diffusive spin current going from the magnetic layer to the non magnetic capping layer.