Spin Switching Mechanism Stimulated by Linearly Polarized Femtosecond Optical Pump

We propose the mechanism for the optical magnetization reversal of metallic ferrimagnets near the magnetic compensation temperature in a zero magnetic field using a femtosecond linearly polarized optical pumping. The mechanism is based on the spin sublattice model proposed by M. I. Kurkin and N. B. Orlova in 2019. This model assumes the formation of spin sublattices with the obligatory participation of magnetic anisotropy eliminating degeneracy in the spectrum of the exchange interaction operator. The discussed optical magnetization reversal was observed experimentally in the GdFeCo alloy near the magnetic compensation point.