Direct detection of pure spin-current by x-ray pump-probe measurements

By synchronizing a microwave waveform with the synchrotron x-ray pulses, we use the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) of the Py (Ni81Fe19) layer in a Py/Cu/Cu75Mn25/Cu/Co multilayer to pump a pure spin current into the Cu75Mn25 spacer layer, and then directly probe the spin current in the Cu75Mn25 layer by a time-resolved x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). This element-specific pump-probe measurement unambiguously identifies the AC spin current in the Cu75Mn25 layer. In addition, phase resolved x-ray measurements reveal a characteristic bipolar phase behavior of the Co spins that is a fingerprint of spin-current driven spin precession.