Nanosecond resolved techniques for dynamical magnetization reversal measurements

In this article we present three techniques developed by our group for probing magnetization dynamics in the nanosecond time scale. All these techniques are based on the magneto-optical interaction of materials with polarized light. Magnetic excitation is provided by microcoils able to generate field pulses of some teslas within a few nanoseconds. Standard Kerr/Faraday dynamic measurements and imaging can be performed as well as time-resolved x-ray magnetic circular dichroism where chemical selectivity can be achieved.