Anomalous frequency scaling of acoustic phonon damping in freestanding nickel cavities fabricated via laser delamination

A Alba Viejo Rodríguez (Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,) A Andrea Rossetti (Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,) M Marco Gandolfi (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Università degli Studi di Brescia 3 , Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia,) Y Yoav Urbina Elgueta (CIC nanoGUNE, Tolosa Hiribidea 6 , 76, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián,) E Evgeny B. Modin (CIC nanoGUNE, Tolosa Hiribidea 6 , 76, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián,) S Svetlana Starikovskaia (LSI, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA/DRF/IRAMIS, CNRS, Institut Polytechnique de Paris 7 , 91128 Palaiseau,) T Tat Loon Chng (LSI, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA/DRF/IRAMIS, CNRS, Institut Polytechnique de Paris 7 , 91128 Palaiseau,) V Vasily V. Temnov M Maria Antonietta Vincenti D Daniele Brida (Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,) P Paolo Vavassori (ClC nanoGUNE BRTA 1 , E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastian,) N Nicolò Maccaferri

Abstract

Single-shot picosecond (ps) laser-induced delamination allows for the direct generation of suspended membranes from a continuous metallic film, offering a promising platform for the control of ultrafast magnetization dynamics driven by acoustic waves. Using the picosecond-ultrasonics method, we demonstrate that long-lived low-frequency acoustic waves can be optically excited in the delaminated cavities. At the same time, higher-frequency modes above 60 GHz exhibit a surprisingly fast damping, following a scaling law incompatible with the expected attenuation mediated by phonon–phonon scattering. Comparing measurements between delaminated cavities and a benchmark nickel film in contact with the substrate, we link our findings to structural modifications of the nickel crystal induced by the delamination process.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 7
Published August 18, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

A

Alba Viejo Rodríguez

Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,

A

Andrea Rossetti

Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,

M

Marco Gandolfi

Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Università degli Studi di Brescia 3 , Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia,

Y

Yoav Urbina Elgueta

CIC nanoGUNE, Tolosa Hiribidea 6 , 76, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián,

E

Evgeny B. Modin

CIC nanoGUNE, Tolosa Hiribidea 6 , 76, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián,

S

Svetlana Starikovskaia

LSI, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA/DRF/IRAMIS, CNRS, Institut Polytechnique de Paris 7 , 91128 Palaiseau,

T

Tat Loon Chng

LSI, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA/DRF/IRAMIS, CNRS, Institut Polytechnique de Paris 7 , 91128 Palaiseau,

V

Vasily V. Temnov

M

Maria Antonietta Vincenti

D

Daniele Brida

Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg 1 , 162a Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg,

P

Paolo Vavassori

ClC nanoGUNE BRTA 1 , E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastian,

N

Nicolò Maccaferri