Laser-induced magnetization precession in the magnetite Fe3O4 in the vicinity of a spin-reorientation transition

Using time-resolved magneto-optical pump-probe technique we demonstrate excitation of magnetization precession in a single crystalline bulk magnetite Fe₃O₄ below and in the vicinity of the Verwey and spin-reorientation (SR) phase transitions. Pronounced temperature dependence of the precession amplitude is observed suggesting that the excitation occurs via laser-driven spin-reorientation transition. Similarity observed between the characteristic features of the laser-induced ultrafast SR and Verwey transitions suggests that they both rely on the same microscopic processes.