Nanosecond resolved techniques for dynamical magnetization reversal measurements

In this article we present three techniques developed by our group for prob ing magnetization dynamics in the nanosecond time scale. All these techniqu es are based on the magneto-optical interaction of materials with polarized light. Magnetic excitation is provided by microcoils able to generate fiel d pulses of some teslas within a few nanoseconds. Standard Kerr/Faraday dyn amic measurements and imaging can be performed as well as time-resolved x-r ay magnetic circular dichroism where chemical selectivity can be achieved. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)91508-1].