Linear to quadratic magnetoelectric effect in Fe langasite

ORAL

Abstract

Materials with coexisting and interacting switchable ferroic orders -- multiferroics -- are the subject of intense investigations due to their existing and potential applications in spintronics and information storage technology. Here we investigate the much debated magnetically induced polarization and magneto-electric effect in the hexagonal Fe-langasite Ba$_3$NbFe$_3$Si$_2$O$_14$ with distorted triangular layers of magnetic Fe ions. We propose a simple model for these phenomena, and discuss how application of the magnetic field induces a toroidal moment, responsible for the peculiar magnetoelectric effect in this material.

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Authors

  • Sergey Artyukhin

    Rutgers University

  • David Vanderbilt

    Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astrnomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Univ

  • S.-W. Cheong

    Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers University