Coupled Magnetic and Ferroelectric Domains in Multiferroic Ni3V2O8

Embargo until
Date
2009-08-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Physical Society
Abstract
Electric control of multi-ferroic domains is demonstrated through polarized magnetic neutron diffraction. Cooling to the cycloidal multi-ferroic phase of Ni3V2O8 in an electric field E causes the incommensurate Bragg reflections to become neutron spin polarizing, the sense of neutron polarization reversing with E. Quantitative analysis indicates the E-treated sample has a handedness that can be reversed by E. We further show a close association between cycloidal and ferroelectric domains through E-driven spin and electric polarization hysteresis. We suggest that a definite cycloidal handedness is achieved through magneto-elastically induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions.
Description
Keywords
cycloidal multiferroic phase, incommensurate Bragg reflections, neutron spin polarization, quantitative analysis, polarized magnetic neutron diffraction, nickel compounds, neutron diffraction, spin polarization hysteresis, electric polarization hysteresis, cycloidal handedness, multiferroics, magnetoelastic effects, magnetic domains, electron spin polarisation, magnetoelastically induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, Ni3V2O8
Citation
Physical Review Letters 21 Aug. 2009, vol.103, no.8, 087201 (4 pp.