Multiferroic phase transitions in manganites RMnO₃:A two-orbital double exchange simulation

The semi-quantum two-orbital exchange model is used to investigate the effect of small rare-earth ion substitution on orthorhombic RMnO 3 with A-type antiferromagnetic order,using the Monte Carlo algorithm,exact diagonalization,and zero-temperature optimization approaches.It is revealed that the substitution results in a rich multiferroic phase diagram where the coexisting A-type antiferromagnetic phase and spiral spin phase,pure spiral spin phase,coexisting spiral spin phase,the E-type antiferromagnetic phase,and the pure E-type antiferromagnetic phase emerge in sequence.The multiferroic phase transitions modulate substantially the electric polarization,which is consistent qualitatively with recent experiments.     

Effect of holmium substitution for the improvement of multiferroic properties of BiFeO3

This paper reports on multiferroic properties of Ho substituted BiFeO₃ (Bi_1−xHo_xFeO₃) ceramics. It is observed that for x=0.15, a prominent ferroelectric loop is seen at 300 K even if the system remains in rhombohedral (R3c) phase without appearance of any observable impurity phases. A well shaped M-H loop is observed at 10 K for x=0.15. However it showed ferromagnetism, confirming the contribution of Ho³⁺ towards enhancement of ferromagnetic properties of BiFeO₃ at 300 K. Suppression of impurity phases of pure BiFeO₃ bulk ceramic favors the reduction of mobile oxygen vacancies and reduces leakage current, due to which ferroelectric properties of BiFeO₃ is enhanced. We argue that Ho substitution at Bi site is likely to suppress the spiral spin modulation and at the same time increase the canting angle, which favors enhanced multiferroic properties. XRD, SEM, magnetization, polarization and chemical bonding analysis measurements were carried out to explain the multiferroic behavior.     

First-order phase transition from an antiferromagnetic ferroelectric to a cycloidal multiferroic with weak ferromagnetism during the joint action of applied magnetic and electric fields

The thermodynamics of the phase transition in a perovskite-like multiferroic, in which an antiferromagnetic ferroelectric transforms into a new magnetic state where a spiral spin structure and weak ferromagnetism can coexist in applied magnetic field H, is described. This state forms as a result of a first-order phase transition at a certain temperature (below Néel temperature T _N ), where a helicoidal magnetic structure appears due to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya effect. In this case, the axes of electric polarization and the helicoid of magnetic moments are mutually perpendicular and lie in the ab plane, which is normal to principal axis c. Additional electric polarization p, which decreases the total polarization of the ferroelectric P, appears in the ab plane. The effect of applied magnetic and electric fields on the properties of a multiferroic with a helicoidal magnetic structure is described. An alternating electric field is shown to cause a field-linear change in magnetic moment m, whose sign is opposite to the sign of the change of electric field E. The detected hysteretic phenomena that determine the temperature ranges of overheating and supercooling of each phase are explained. A comparison with the experimental data is performed.     

Electronic structures of ternary iron arsenides AFe2As2 (A = Ba, Ca, or Sr)

We have studied the electronic and magnetic structures of the ternary iron arsenides AFe₂As₂ (A = Ba, Ca, or Sr) using the first-principles density functional theory. The ground states of these compounds are in a collinear antiferromagnetic order, resulting from the interplay between the nearest and the next-nearest neighbor superexchange antiferromagnetic interactions bridged by As 4p orbitals. The correction from the spin-orbit interaction to the electronic band structure is given. The pressure can reduce dramatically the magnetic moment and diminish the collinear antiferromagnetic order. Based on the calculations, we propose that the low energy dynamics of these materials can be described effectively by a t-J _H -J ₁-J ₂-type model [2008, arXiv: 0806.3526v2].     

Magnetic properties of multiferroics Bi1 ? xAxFeO3 ? x/2 (A = Ca, Sr, Pb, Ba)

The magnetic properties of Bi_{1 − x} A _x FeO_{3 − x/2} (A is an alkaline-earth ion) solid solutions have been studied in magnetic fields of up to 140 kOe. The ferroelectric phase (space group R3c) transforms into the nonpolar pseudocubic phase at x ≈ 0.2. It is demonstrated that the substitution of alkaline-earth ions for bismuth ions (x ≥ 0.1) leads to a complete destruction of the modulated antiferromagnetic structure and the appearance of a weakly ferromagnetic state within the R3c state. In the pseudocubic phase, the spontaneous magnetization is absent; however, the field dependence of the magnetization is nonlinear and depends on the magnetic prehistory.     

Phase transitions induced by a strong magnetic field in electron-doped manganites

The magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of single crystals of electron-doped rare-earth manganites La_1?x Sr _x MnO₃ are studied. Phase transitions from the A-type antiferromagnetic phase to the C-type anti-ferromagnetic phase in a strong magnetic field are revealed in La_1?x Sr _x MnO₃ manganites with a strontium content x = 0.65. A similar phase transition is observed in manganites with a strontium content x = 0.8, at which the La_0.2Sr_0.8MnO₃ manganite is assumed to transform from the C-type antiferromagnetic phase to the G-type antiferromagnetic phase.     

Effect of the electric field on “incommensurate-commensurate” magnetic phase transitions in BiFeO3-type multiferroics

The specific features of the “incommensurate-commensurate” phase transitions induced by a magnetic field in multiferroics (materials with coexisting magnetic and electric ordering) are considered. These materials are ferroelectromagnets, for example, bismuth ferrite BiFeO₃ and BiFeO₃-based compounds, which have spatially modulated spin structures. It is shown that the interaction between the electric and magnetic subsystems of the multiferroic material can lead to an electric-field-induced shift of the critical magnetic field corresponding to the transition from a spatially modulated state to a homogeneous antiferromagnetic state. According to the theoretical estimates obtained for material parameters characteristic of the bismuth ferrite, this shift is of the order of 0.5 T in an electric field of 50 kV/cm. The phase diagrams are constructed in the “electric field-magnetic field” coordinates. The results of calculations performed in the harmonic incommensurate structure approximation are compared with the exact soliton solution.     

A structural, magnetostrictive and M?ssbauer study of Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe0.9 T 0.1)1.95 alloys

The effect of IIIA metal and transition metalT substitution for Fe on crystal structure, magnetostriction and spontaneous magnetostriction, anisotropy and spin reorientation of a series of polycrystalline Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 (T=Mn, Fe, Co, B, Al, Ga) alloys at room temperature were investigated systematically. It was found that the primary phase of the Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 alloys is the MgCu₂-type cubic Laves phase structure for different substitution. The magnetostriction λ{ins} decrases greatly for the substitution of IIIA metal, B, Al and Ga, but is saturated more easily for Al and Ga substitution, showing that the Al and Ga substitution is beneficial to a decrease in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 alloys. However, the substitution of transition metal Mn and Co decreases slightly the magnetostriction λ{ins}. It was also found that the effect of different substitutions on the spontaneous magnetostriction λ{in111} is distinct. The analysis of the M?ssbauer spectra indicates that the easy magnetization direction in the {110} plane deviates slightly from the main axis of symmetry for Al and Ga substitution, namely spin reorientation, but it does not change evidently for B, Mn and Co substitution.     

Ferroelectricity generated by spin-orbit and spin-lattice couplings in multiferroic DyMnO3

While the ferroelectricity in type-II multiferroic rare-earth manganites is believed to be generated by the inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction (spin-orbit coupling) associated with the Mn spiral spin order, recent results revealed the strong spin-lattice coupling arising from the Dy-Mn spin interaction in DyMnO₃, which may also be an ingredient contributing to the ferroelectricity. In this work, we summarize our recent experiments on this issue by performing a series of rare-earth site nonmagnetic Y and magnetic Ho substitutions at Dy site for DyMnO₃. It is demonstrated that the Dy-Mn spin interaction contributes to the ferroelectric polarization through the symmetric exchange striction mechanism (spin-lattice coupling). A coexistence of the spin-orbit coupling and spin-lattice coupling in one compound is confirmed. At the same time, the independent Dy antiferromagnetic spin order at low temperature can be effectively suppressed by the substitutions, beneficial to the polarization enhancement.     

Ab initio study on magnetoelectric and electronic properties in Pb2TiVO6

First principles calculations within the projected augmented-wave (PAW) method, using the local spin density approximation plus U (LSDA+U) scheme, show that the tetragonal Pb2TiVO6 is a potential multiferroic material with antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin configuration. It has a magnetic moment of 1 μB in a one unit cell originating from the non-bonding orbital dxy in a majority spin channel and a band gap of 1.45 eV with proper U. The large BEC (Born effective charge) of Pb and Ti shows that the stereochemical activity of Pb and Ti may provide the possibility of switchable paths for the ferroelectricity in this hypothetical material. The insulating property and the lower resistivity in the recent prepared PbVO3 can be significantly improved by adopting the Ti.     

NiS2-xSex在x=1.00附近的反铁磁量子相变

针对NiS_2-xSe_x系统在x=1.0０附近发生的反铁磁量子相变,制备了一系列NiS_2-xSe_x(x=0.96, 0.98, 1.00, 1.05, 1.10和1.20)多晶样品,对其结构、磁性质和电阻率进行了系统的观测.结果发现：样品磁化率-温度关系呈现典型的强关联电子系统特征;与铜氧化物超导体相类似,它们的电阻率-温度关系在很宽的温 关键词： 量子相变 反铁磁自旋涨落 2-xSe_x体系')" href="#">NiS_2-xSe_x体系     

Co3+离子自旋态对六方相LaCoO3的低指数晶面稳定性影响的密度泛函理论研究

By the first-principles calculations,most studies indicated that the (11102)-CoO₂ termination of LaCoO₃ cannot be stabilized,which disagrees with the experimental observation.Besides the crystal structure,we found that the spin states of Co³⁺ ions could affect surface stability,which previously were not well considered.By examining the different states of Co³⁺ ions in hexagonal-phase LaCoO₃,including low spin,intermediate spin,and high spin states,the surface grand potentials of these facets are calculated and compared.The results show that the spin states of Co³⁺ ions have an important influence on stability of the LaCoO₃ facets.Different from the previous results,the stability diagrams demonstrate that the (11102)-CoO₂ termination can stably exist under O-rich condition,which can get an agreement with the experimental ones.Furthermore,the surface oxygen vacancy formation energies (E_Ov) of stable facets are computed in different spin states.The E_Ov of these possible exposed terminations strongly depend on the spin state of Co³⁺ ions:in particular,the E_Ov of the HS states is lower than that of other spin states.This indicates that one can tune the properties of LaCoO₃ by directly tuning the spin states of Co³⁺ ions.     

Soft vibrational mode in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

The temperature dependence of the far-infrared reflectivity as obtained with a scanning interferometer for the A₁- and E-type modes of both LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ is reported in the ferroelectric phase. Results of a Kramers-Kronig analysis are compared with Raman and neutron scattering data which are controversial about the existence of a soft vibrational mode. For LiTaO₃, spectra are obtained 300 K above the Curie temperature, in the paraelectric phase. The lowest-frequency A₁ (TO) mode is unambiguously found as soft and becomes rapidly overdamped.     

A-site disorder effects in electron-doped manganite La0.4Ca0.6MnO3

The A-site disorder effects on the stability of charge-ordered state in electron-doped manganite R_0.4A_0.6MnO₃ (where R = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, and A = Ca, Sr, Ba) are investigated by detailed measurements of transport, magnetism, and specific heat. The robust charge-ordered phase within the prototype sample can be successively suppressed by enhancing the A-site disorder, and finally an atomic-scale spin-glass state is evidenced in the highest disordered sample. However, no ferromagnetic phase can be observed; even the long-range charge-ordered antiferromagnetic phase is fully suppressed, which can be associated with the insufficient e _g electron density in such an electron-doped manganite. This revealing is helpful for understanding the origin of ferromagnetic phase in nano-sized or B-site doped charge-ordered manganites with small e _g electron density.     

Multiferroic and magnetoelectric properties of MnFe2O4/(Pb0.8Sr0.2)TiO3 composite films

Abstract

MnFe₂O₄/(Pb_0.8Sr_0.2)TiO₃ (MFO/PST20) heterostructured composite films with three different structures have been grown on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si substrates by metal–organic decomposition processing via spin coating technique. The structural analysis revealed that the crystal axes of the MnFe₂O₄ are aligned with those of the PST20 ferroelectric matrix with obvious interfaces and no diffusions exist in all the three composite films. These composite films exhibit simultaneously multiferroic and magnetoelectric responses at room temperature. The growth structure of MFO and PST20 layers has an effect on multiferroic and magnetoelectric coupling behaviours of the composite films. The bi- and four-layered MFO/PST20 composite films exhibit superior ferroelectric properties compared to the tri-layered film. The increasing MFO and PST20 layers in the composite films enhance ferromagnetic properties and are closely related to the strain release in MnFe₂O₄ phase. The MFO/PST20 bi-layered composite film shows a high magnetoelectric voltage co-efficient α_E ~ 194 mVcm^?1Oe^?1 at a dc magnetic field H_dc ~ 2.5 kOe. A significant decrease in α_E value has been observed for tri- and four- layered composite films. A close correlation between phase selective residual stress and magnetoelectric properties has been emerged. The results are reasonably encouraging for employing MnFe₂O₄ for growing multiferroic–magnetoelectric composite films.     

Unitary equivalence between a spin 1/2 charged particle in a two-dimensional magnetic field and a spin 1/2 neutral particle with an anomalous magnetic moment in a two-dimensional electric field

We prove the unitary equivalence between the Dirac HamiltonianH _D for a relativistic spin 1/2 neutral particle with an anomalous magnetic moment in a two-dimensional electrostatic fieldE = (E ₁,E ₂) and the direct sum of the Dirac-Weyl operatorsD(±A) for a spin 1/2 charged particle in two-dimensional magnetic fields ±dA with the vector potentialA =E ₂ dx ¹ -E ₁ dx ², (x ¹,x ²) ². As applications, we investigate the ground state and the spectra ofH _D.     

NMRON studies of the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of54Mn-MnCl2 · 4H2O

Pulsed NMRON, CW NMRON and thermal NMR-NO methods have been utilized to study⁵⁴Mn-MnCl₂ · 4H₂O. The⁵⁴Mn spin-lattice relaxation timeT ₁ in zero applied field has been measured between 35 and 90 mK in the antiferromagnetic phase. Above 65 mK the dominant relaxation mechanism is a Raman process with the electronic magnons, but at lower temperatures a direct process takes over. NMRON has been observed for the first time in the paramagnetic phase, and a line width of 300 kHz, with both homogeneous and inhomogeneous contributions, is observed. In the antiferromagnetic phase the line width is 35 kHz, and there are also homogeneous and inhomogeneous contributions. The dependence ofT ₁ for the⁵⁴Mn spins on field and temperature was studied in the paramagnetic phase. AT ₁ minimum centred atB ₀=2.64 T was observed. The hyperfine parameter <⁵⁴ AS>/h=−513.6(3) MHz in the paramagnetic phase, and comparison with the value in the antiferromagnetic phase gives 0.013(1) for the zero point spin deviation.     

Multiferroic studies on (BiFeO3)m(BaTiO3)n superlattice structures

BiFeO₃ has been studied extensively due to its room temperature multiferroic features and has been proven as a promising candidate for device applications. But BiFeO₃ possesses some drawbacks like high leakage current and complicated magnetic ordering, giving rise to a canted antiferromagnetic behavior. Hence, a superlattice approach of BiFeO₃ and BaTiO₃ with a good lattice matching was fabricated and the room temperature ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties were studied. The macroscopic and local probe studies reveal a ferroelectric nature at room temperature, and most importantly a weak ferromagnetic like behavior was observed. The ferromagnetic behavior is expected to arise due to the variation introduced in the spin modulation of single BiFeO₃ layer due to the superstructure formation.     

Magnetoelastic effects in terbium

The variation of the elastic modulus C₃₃ of terbium has been investigated as a function of temperature in the range 200–230 K, which includes the whole of the antiferromagnetic phase, and as a function of magnetic field applied along the easy magnetic direction, the b axis. Hysteresis in C₃₃ in the antiferromagnetic phase is interpreted in terms of spiral spin domains. The magnetic phase changes are reflected in anomalies in the elastic constant and these are used to produce a magnetic phase diagram of terbium. The final phase diagram has been compared with earlier measurements of magnetisation and magnetostriction.     

Magnetic phase diagram of spinel spin-glasses

The article by Villain [Z. Phys. B — Condensed Matter33, 31 (1979)] is discussed and a modified magnetic phase diagram is suggested for the spinel system (AB₂O₄) in which theA andB sites are partially (or completely) occupied by magnetic atoms. This diagram takes into account the antiferromagnetic exchange interactionsJ _AA,J _BB andJ _AB between nearest neighbor cations of various types. Regions of paramagnetic, antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic and possible spin glass behaviour are indicated on the diagram.Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant ISP-80-11451