Polushkin, N. I.Duarte, A. C.Conde, O.Alves, E.Barradas, N. P.García-García, A.Kakazei, G. N.Ventura, J. O.Araújo, J. P.Oliveira, VitorVilar, R.2016-03-182016-03-182015-05-01POLUSHKIN, N. I.; [et al.] - Laser-induced diffusion decomposition in Fe-V thin-film alloys. Applied Surface Science. ISSN. 0169-4332. Vol. 336 (2015), pp. 380-3840169-43321873-5584http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/5911We investigate the origin of ferromagnetism induced in thin-film (similar to 20 nm) Fe-V alloys by their irradiation with subpicosecond laser pulses. We find with Rutherford backscattering that the magnetic modifications follow a thermally stimulated process of diffusion decomposition, with formation of a-few-nm-thick Fe enriched layer inside the film. Surprisingly, similar transformations in the samples were also found after their long-time (similar to 10(3) s) thermal annealing. However, the laser action provides much higher diffusion coefficients (similar to 4 orders of magnitude) than those obtained under standard heat treatments. We get a hint that this ultrafast diffusion decomposition occurs in the metallic glassy state achievable in laser-quenched samples. This vitrification is thought to be a prerequisite for the laser-induced onset of ferromagnetism that we observe. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.engMetallic alloysPhase separationLaser quenchingFerromagnetismjournal article10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.12.164