Work

First-principles study of nonlinear magnetoelectric effects in improper LuFeO3 multiferroics

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Hexagonal LuFeO3 is known as an improper multiferroic material because of its ferroelectric structural distortion, measured by the Γ2− polar mode, and is driven by a trimerization structural distortion represented by the K3 non-polar mode [Fennie and Rabe, Phys. Rev. B 72, 100103(R) (2005)]. The K3 mode is also the primary structural origin of net weak ferromagnetism, associated with the ferromagnetic coupling between the in-plane geometrically frustrated spins. Here, we study the magnetoelectric coupling in LuFeO3 using first-principles calculations and applied external electric fields. We find that the weak ferromagnetism responds to the electric field polarization through the K3–Γ2− coupling, which is an intrinsic characteristic of improper multiferroics. Interestingly, the magnetoelectric coupling exhibits strong asymmetry under positive and negative electric fields. This nonlinearity is due to the competition between the K3 and the Γ2− modes according to Landau's theory and is related to asymmetrical interatomic interactions at the atomic level.

Source: Journal of Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1063/5.0233159

Authors: Da Ke, Yubo Zhang

Institution: Minjiang University

Language: English

Topic: Multiferroics and related materials

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, Minjiang University