Dynamics of surface magnetization on a nanosecond time scale

The dynamics of surface magnetization is measured with ns time resolution by spin-polarimetry of the total photoemission yield excited by synchrotron radiation pulses. The surface response is compared to the bulk magnetization dynamics as obtained by induction measurements. The surface and the bulk show distinct magnetization dynamics indicating weak coupling during the reversal process in the ns-mu s time domain. Ultrathin layers of Fe as well as three-layer Fe/Cu/Fe exchange coupled structures were grown on top of an amorphous soft-ferromagnetic substrate (Vitrovac) and showed different reversal dynamics