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Abstract

Femtosecond laser excitation of materials exhibiting magnetic spin textures promises advanced magnetic control via the generation of non-equilibrium spin dynamics. Ferrimagnetic [Fe(0.35 nm)/Gd(0.40 nm)]160 multilayers are used to explore this approach, as they host a rich diversity of magnetic textures from stripe domains at low magnetic fields, a dense bubble/skyrmion lattice at intermediate fields, and a single domain state for high magnetic fields. Using femtosecond magneto-optics, distinct coherent spin wave dynamics are observed in this material in response to a weak laser excitation, enabling an unambiguous identification of the different magnetic spin textures. Moreover, employing strong laser excitation, versatile control of the coherent spin dynamics via non-equilibrium transformation of magnetic spin textures becomes possible by both creating and annihilating bubbles/skyrmions. Micromagnetic simulations and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy with in situ optical excitation corroborate these findings.