A study of the thermal switching behavior in GdTbFe magneto-optic films using two laser beams
Frans J. A. M. Greidanus, W. F. Godlieb, P. M. L. O. Scholte · Journal of Applied Physics · 1988
An understanding of the thermal switching behavior of thin magneto-optic films is of primary importance for memory applications. We studied the formation of large domains induced by locally heating a GdTbFe layer with a krypton laser (753 nm) in a static magnetic field. The switching of the perpendicular magnetization was monitored in a small area of the larger krypton-laser-irradiated area by measuring the change in Kerr effect with a semiconductor laser (820 nm). It is observed that the switching is delayed with respect to the start of the heating pulse. There are strong indications that the delayed magnetization reversal starts simultaneously over the entire area of the heated spot and is followed by a small domain expansion.