2026-10-06T09:49:42Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33477580 2026-10-05T12:36:33Z portal_1132 item_type_3 month_year_10_2026

Optically induced thermal demagnetization and switching of antiferromagnetic domains in NiO and CoO thin films (dataset) Maciej Dabrowski (21064013) Tong Wu (572032) Connor R J Sait (24603786) Jia Xu (111777) Paul S Keatley (24345977) Yizheng Wu (23079309) Robert J Hicken (21843488) Olena Gomonay (16460503) Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy antiferromangetic All-Optical Switching This is the data for "Laser-induced manipulation of antiferromagnetic domains in NiO and CoO thin films", published in Physical Review Applied, volume 26, article 044008. https://doi.org/10.1103/jsdr-j4h6 In this work, we demonstrate all-optical manipulation of magnetic domains in NiO/Pt and CoO/Pt thin films with insulating antiferromagnetic layers. Using magneto-optical birefringence imaging, we show that even a single laser pulse can thermally demagnetize the antiferromagnet, leading to a random redistribution of domains. By sweeping the laser beam, domain wall motion is induced, enabling partial switching of the antiferromagnetic order. The behavior is captured by an analytical model in which temperature gradients generated by the moving beam exert a thermal pressure on domain walls in the form of a ponderomotive force. Importantly, the domains can be reversibly toggled solely by reversing the direction of the thermal gradient, demonstrating all-optical switching without the need for electric currents. These findings establish a route toward ultrafast optical manipulation of fully compensated antiferromagnets, with potential impact on non-volatile memory technologies and antiferromagnetic spintronics. 2026-10-05T12:36:33Z Dataset Dataset 10.24378/exe.33477580.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Optically_induced_thermal_demagnetization_and_switching_of_antiferromagnetic_domains_in_NiO_and_CoO_thin_films_dataset_/33477580 CC BY