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Simultaneous imaging of strain waves and induced magnetization dynamics at the nanometer scale

Changes in strain can be used to modify electronic and magnetic properties in crystal structures, to manipulate nanoparticles and cells, or to control chemical reactions. The magneto-elastic (ME) effect--the change of magnetic properties caused by the elastic deformation (strain) of a magnetic material--has been proposed as an alternative approach to magnetic fields for the low power control of magnetization states of nanoelements since it avoids charge currents, which entail ohmic losses. Multiferroic heterostructures \cite{Zheng2004} and nanocomposites have exploited this effect in search of electric control of magnetic states, mostly in the static regime. Quantitative studies combining strain and magnetization dynamics are needed for practical applications and so far, a high resolution technique for this has been lacking. Here, we have studied the effect of the dynamic strain accompanying a surface acoustic wave on magnetic nanostructures. We have simultaneously imaged the temporal evolution of both strain waves and magnetization dynamics of nanostructures at the picosecond timescale. The newly developed experimental technique, based on X-ray microscopy, is versatile and provides a pathway to the study of strain-induced effects at the nanoscale. Our results provide fundamental insight in the coupling between strain and magnetization in nanostructures at the picosecond timescale, having implications in the design of strain-controlled magnetostrictive nano-devices.