Light-induced spin transition in the spin-crossover complex FePt₂2 detected by optical pump -coherent resonant nuclear elastic scattering

We report the results of optical pump-nuclear resonance probe experiments on the SCO complex [FeII(L-PtII(t-but-tpy))2](BF4)2 with L being 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trimethylsilylethynyl)pyridine) and t-but-tpy being 4,4′,4″-Tri-tert-Butyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine using a novel experimental set-up at the beamline P01, Petra III, DESY Hamburg. We investigate the changes in the spin state of the complex when it is excited by laser pulses of 766 nm wavelength and pulse width < 100 ps. Our simulations of the nuclear forward scattering data indicate a dominant low spin state along with some high spin fraction in the absence of laser pulses. We observe clear changes in the time-spectrum following the instant at which the laser pulse hits the sample. Furthermore, these alterations are recorded as the relative timing of the laser pulses with respect to the synchrotron pulses is varied.