Advancements in Magnetic Data Storage Using Plasmonic Nanostructures

Recent research has demonstrated a significant advancement in the field of magnetic data storage through the use of plasmonic gold nanostructures. The study, titled "Sub-wavelength localized all-optical helicity-independent magnetic switching using plasmonic gold nanostructures," was conducted by Themistoklis Sidiropoulos and ten co-authors. The findings indicate that all-optical helicity-independent switching (AO-HIS) can be achieved at dimensions as small as 240 nanometers. This is particularly noteworthy as it could lead to more efficient and compact magnetic data storage solutions.

The researchers utilized metallic nanostructures that support localized surface plasmons, which allow for spatial electromagnetic confinement below the diffraction limit. By depositing these plasmonic structures on a GdTbCo film, they were able to probe the magnetic state using magnetic force microscopy. The study revealed that a single laser pulse of 370 femtoseconds duration, with a center wavelength of 1030 nanometers, could effectively induce localized AO-HIS.

This research not only highlights the potential for reducing the size of magnetic bits but also emphasizes the reproducibility of localized nanoscale AO-HIS at sub-wavelength length scales. The implications of this work could extend to the development of future magnetic data storage technologies, making them faster and more energy-efficient.

The full paper can be accessed at arXiv:2408.13079.