Magnetoelectric effect in antiferromagnetic multiferroic Pb(Fe.sub.1/2./sub. N b.sub.1/2./sub.)O.sub.3./sub. and its solid solutions with PbTi O.sub.3./sub.

0473841 - FZÚ 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Laguta, Valentyn - Stephanovich, V. A. - Raevski, I. P. - Raevskaya, S. I. - Titov, V.V. - Smotrakov, V. G. - Eremkin, V. V.
Magnetoelectric effect in antiferromagnetic multiferroic Pb(Fe_1/2 N b_1/2)O₃ and its solid solutions with PbTi O₃.
Physical Review. B. Roč. 95, č. 1 (2017), 1-13, č. článku 014207. ISSN 1098-0121
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LO1409; GA MŠMT LM2015088; GA ČR GA13-11473S
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : multiferroic * antiferromagnetic * ferroelectrics * magnetoelectric effect * Landau theory
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)

Antiferromagnets (AFMs) are presently considered as promising materials for applications in spintronics and random access memories due to the robustness of information stored in the AFM state against perturbing magnetic fields. In this respect, AFM multiferroics may be attractive alternatives for conventional AFMs as the coupling of magnetism with ferroelectricity (magnetoelectric effect) offers an elegant possibility of electric-field control and switching of AFM domains. Here we report the results of comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations of the quadratic magnetoelectric (ME) effect in single crystals and highly resistive ceramics of Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PFN) and (1-x)Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3(PFN-xPT). We are interested primarily in the temperature range of the multiferroic phase, T<150K, where the ME coupling coefficient is extremely large (as compared to the well-known multiferroic BiFeO3) and shows sign reversal at the paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition. Moreover, we observe strong ME response nonlinearity in the AFM phase in the magnetic fields of only a few kOe. To describe the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the above unusual features of the ME effect in PFN and PFN-xPT, we use a simple phenomenological Landau approach which explains experimental data surprisingly well. Our ME measurements demonstrate that the electric field of only 20-25 kV/cm is able to switch the AFM domains and align them with ferroelectric ones even in PFN ceramic samples.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0270968