Local magneto-electric response of Cr2O3 investigated with spin polarized positive muons

ORAL

Abstract

The bulk properties of the prototypical linear magneto-electric antiferromagnet Cr2O3 have been extensively studied. Here, we report on a muon spin rotation (μSR) study using spin polarized muons to probe the local magneto-electric response in order to investigate magnetoelectricity on a microscopic level. We find that the muon, a light interstitial probe, occupies several distinct stopping sites in Cr2O3, and displays a rich dynamic behavior that we interpret in the context of local muon hopping and thermally activated site transitions. Furthermore, when Cr2O3 is prepared in a single magnetic domain, a shift in the local magnetic field is observed in response to an applied electric field, with the sign of the shift depending both on the field direction and domain state. The origin of this apparent magneto-electric effect is discussed.

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Presenters

  • Martin Dehn

    Department of Physics & Astronomy and Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia

Authors

  • Martin Dehn

    Department of Physics & Astronomy and Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia

  • Donald J Arseneau

    TRIUMF

  • Sarah R Dunsiger

    TRIUMF

  • Bassam Hitti

    TRIUMF

  • Stefan Holenstein

    Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Institut, Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich

  • Michael Fechner

    Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

  • Hubertus Luetkens

    Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland, Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Paul Scherrer Institut

  • W Andrew MacFarlane

    Departament of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia

  • Ryan M. L. McFadden

    Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia

  • Quintin N Meier

    Department of Materials, ETH Zürich

  • Gerald D Morris

    Center for Molecular and Materials Science, TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A3, Canada, Physical Sciences Division, TRIUMF, TRIUMF, TRIUMF, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2A3, Canada.

  • Zaher Salman

    Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory for Muon Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Paul Scherrer Institut

  • Nicola Spaldin

    ETH Zurich, Materials Theory, ETH Zürich, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich

  • Robert F Kiefl

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Department of Physics & Astronomy and Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia