Magnetization precession induced by quasi-transverse picosecond strain pulses in (311) ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As

Quasi-longitudinal and quasi-transverse picosecond strain pulses injected into a ferromagnetic (311) (Ga,Mn)As film induce dynamical shear strain in the film, thereby modulating the magnetic anisotropy and inducing resonant precession of the magnetization at a frequency ~10 GHz. The modulation of the out-of-plane magnetization component by the quasitransverse strain reaches amplitudes as large as 10% of the equilibrium magnetization. Our theoretical analysis is in good agreement with the observed results, thus providing a strategy for ultrafast magnetization control in ferromagnetic films by strain pulses.