Picosecond pulsed magnetic fields for studies of ultrafast magnetic phenomena

Ultrafast optical techniques were used to develop novel time-resolved probes of magnetic dynamics. Picosecond-scale magnetic field pulses were launched from a photoconductive switch and applied to small samples which were then probed by time-delayed optical pulses, yielded temporal information in a conventional stroboscopic manner. Characteristics of the magnetic field pulses are described and illustrated through measurements of rapid relaxation effects in europium sulfide films at low temperatures.<
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