Laser-induced THz magnetism of antiferromagnetic CoF$_2$

Excitation, detection and control of coherent THz magnetic excitation in antiferromagnets are challenging problems that can be addressed using ever shorter laser pulses. We study experimentally excitation of magnetic dynamics at THz frequencies in an antiferromagnetic insulator CoF$_2$ by sub-10 fs laser pulses. Time-resolved pump-probe polarimetric measurements at different temperatures and probe polarizations reveal laser-induced transient circular birefringence oscillating at the frequency of 7.45 THz and present below the N\'eel temperature. The THz oscillations of circular birefringence are ascribed to oscillations of the magnetic moments of Co$^{2+}$ ions induced by the laser-driven coherent E$_g$ phonon mode via the THz analogue of the transverse piezomagnetic effect. It is also shown that the same pulse launches coherent oscillations of the magnetic linear birefringence at the frequency of 3.4 THz corresponding to the two-magnon mode. Analysis of the probe polarization dependence of the transient magnetic linear birefringence at the frequency of the two-magnon mode enables identifying its symmetry.

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