Influence of the magneto-volume effect on the transient reflectivity of MnSi

Abstract

The magneto-volume effect is a well-established yet frequently overlooked phenomenon in magnetic materials that may affect a wide range of physical properties. Our study explores the influence of the magneto-volume effect on the transient reflectivity of MnSi, a well-known chiral magnet with strong magnetoelastic coupling. We observe a unipolar reflectivity transient in the paramagnetic phase, contrasting with a bipolar response in phases with magnetic long-range order. Comparing our findings with thermal expansion from literature, we establish that the bipolar response originates in the magneto-volume effect which dominates the thermal expansion and influences the optical reflectivity. Our results highlight not only that the magneto-volume effect must be considered when discussing transient reflectivity measurements of magnetic materials but also that such measurements permit to study the characteristic time scales of the magneto-volume effect itself, contributing to a deeper understanding of this often-neglected phenomenon.