Magnetization Induced by Optical Pumping in Antiferromagnetic MnF2

Abstract

We have generated magnetization in antiferromagnetic Mn${\mathrm{F}}_2$ by selectively pumping the lowest ${}_{}{}^6{}_{}{}^{}A_1^{}{}_{}{}^{}\to {}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}T_1^{}{}_{}{}^{}$ sublattice excitons (or exciton-magnon band) with a pulsed, tunable dye laser. Intersublattice relaxation processes were studied by observing the creation and decay of specific excitations, as induction signals. The exciton relaxation time decreases with increasing temperature and pumping power. We interpret this as intersublattice relaxation assisted by thermally excited magnons.