  The orbital angular momenta (OAM) of electrons play an increasingly important
role in ultrafast electron and magnetization dynamics. In this theoretical
study, we investigate the electron dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulses
in a normal metal, a ferromagnet, and a ferromagnet/normal metal
heterostructure. We analyze the spatio-temporal distributions of the
laser-induced OAM and their respective currents. Our findings demonstrate that
a circularly polarized laser pulse can induce a sizable and long-lasting OAM
component in a normal metal. Furthermore, an interface between a ferromagnet
and a normal metal facilitates the demagnetization of the magnet by the OAM
contribution to the total magnetization. Finally, to transfer OAM from a
ferromagnet into a normal metal, it is advantageous to use a laser setup that
induces the desired OAM component in the ferromagnet, but not in the normal
metal.
