Spin-Spiral Enhancement of Ultrafast Light-Polarization-Robust Magnetization

Abstract

Ultrafast light-driven magnetization, a frontier in quantum magneto-optics, has traditionally relied on circularly polarized lasers to provide external angular momentum. While increasing efforts have aimed to achieve light-polarization-robust (LPR) magnetization that is insensitive to the form of external light excitation, the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we establish the symmetry-constrained rule for LPR magnetization in antiferromagnetic systems. Through real-time time-dependent density functional theory calculations, we observe the strong LPR magnetization in spin-spiral magnets and its suppression in collinear antiferromagnets, confirming our theory. Strikingly, laser excitation induces real-space demagnetization, rotation, and oscillation of atomic spins in spin-spiral monolayer NiI$_2$, whereas rotation is largely suppressed in conventional collinear antiferromagnets. Our work reveals a novel microscopic pathway for ultrafast magnetization that is independent of light polarization, paving the way for advanced femtosecond spin control.