This article is cited in 78 papers

CONDENSED MATTER

Magnetoelectric interactions and phase transitions in a new class of multiferroics with improper electric polarization

A. K. Zvezdin^ab, A. A. Mukhin<sup>b

a</sup> Fondacione ISI, 10133 Torino, Italy
^b Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia

Abstract: Symmetry analysis of magnetoelectric interactions in rare-earth orthoferrites and orthochromites has been performed. It has been shown that symmetry allows the appearance of spontaneous electric polarization or the magnetic-field-induced polarization in the region of antiferromagnetic (centro-asymmetric) ordering of the rare-earth ions. The analysis reveals a number of pronounced anomalies in the behavior of the electric polarization at the metamagnetic and spin-reorientation transitions in DyCrO₃ and TbFeO₃. This behavior points to a strong sensitivity of the magnetoelectric properties of such magnets to the antiferromagnetic state of the rareearth subsystem and the spin orientation of the d ions.

PACS: 75.80+q

Received: 31.07.2008

 English version: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters, 2008, 88:8, 505–510

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