  We demonstrate a new approach for directly measuring the ultrafast energy
transfer between elec- trons and magnons, enabling us to track spin dynamics in
an antiferromagnet (AFM). In multiferroic HoMnO3, optical photoexcitation
creates hot electrons, after which changes in the spin order are probed with a
THz pulse tuned to a magnon resonance. This reveals a photoinduced
transparency, which builds up over several picoseconds as the spins heat up due
to energy transfer from hot elec- trons via phonons. This spin-lattice
thermalization time is ?10 times faster than that of typical ferromagnetic (FM)
manganites. We qualitatively explain the fundamental differences in
spin-lattice thermalization between FM and AFM systems and apply a Boltzmann
equation model for treating AFMs. Our work gives new insight into spin-lattice
thermalization in AFMs and demonstrates a new approach for directly monitoring
the ultrafast dynamics of spin order in these systems.
