Probing Ultrafast Spin Dynamics in Heusler Thin Films with Extreme Ultraviolet Light

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light produced through high harmonic generation enables time- and element-resolved spectroscopy on femtosecond timescales. We utilize a tabletop EUV beamline for spectroscopic measurements of spin dynamics in magnetic materials. In particular, we investigate the behavior of Heusler alloy thin films in response to laser excitation. Such materials can have a wide variety of tunable magnetic and electronic properties as a result of their complex band structures. We can simultaneously probe these dynamics across multiple elements within a material, allowing us to uncover new coupled spin-charge-phonon-photon behaviors. Furthermore, we implement a noise-cancelling scheme to achieve precise measurements approaching the shot noise limit.