Oxide electronics

Abstract:

We have studied the high-temperature multiferroic cupric oxide using polarized neutron diffraction as a function of temperature and applied electric field. We find that the chiral domain population can be varied using an external electric field applied along the b axis. With the aid of representation analysis, we deduce the incommensurate magnetic structure in the multiferroic phase. We conclude that the origin of the magnetoelectric coupling is consistent with recently proposed models which are based on the inverse Dzyaloshinskii - Moriya interaction. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Abstract:

The coupling of magnetic chiralities to the ferroelectric polarisation in multiferroic RbFe(MoO$_4$)$_2$ is investigated by neutron spherical polarimetry. Because of the axiality of the crystal structure below $T_\textrm{c}$ = 190 K, helicity and triangular chirality are symmetric-exchange coupled, explaining the onset of the ferroelectricity in this proper-screw magnetic structure - a mechanism that can be generalised to other systems with "ferroaxial" distortions in the crystal structure. With an applied electric field we demonstrate control of the chiralities in both structural domains simultaneously.