Ultralow-frequency magnetoelectric effect in a multilayer ferrite-piezoelectric structure

The magnetoelectric effect is experimentally studied in a multilayer nickel zinc ferrite-lead zirconate titanate structure at frequencies of 10^?3–10 Hz that is placed in a harmonically modulated magnetic field of amplitude to 1 kOe. The nonlinearity of the ferrite magnetostriction and the conductivity of the films are shown to double the frequency and distort the shape of the magnetoelectric voltage. The magnetoelectric signal amplitude decreases linearly with decreasing field modulation frequency. The feasibility of using the magnetoelectric effect to detect ultralow-frequency magnetic fields is demonstrated.     

Magnetoelectric Effect in Gallium Arsenide–Nickel–Tin–Nickel Multilayer Structures

Experimental data have been presented for the magnetoelectric effect in nickel–tin–nickel multilayer structures grown on a GaAs substrate by cathodic electrodeposition. The method of fabricating these structures has been described, and the frequency dependence of the effect has been demonstrated. It has been shown that tin used as an intermediate layer reduces mechanical stresses due to the phase mismatch at the Ni–GaAs interface and, thus, makes it possible to grow good structures with a 70-μm-thick Ni layer. The grown structures offer good adhesion between layers and a high Q factor.     

Theory of the magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic-piezoelectric heterostructures

A theory of the magnetoelectric effect in ferromagnetic-piezoelectric bilayer structures is considered for platelike samples. The magnetoelectric voltage coefficient is expressed through the parameters characterizing the magnetic and piezoelectric phases. It is shown that the magnetoelectric voltage coefficient considerably increases in the region of electromechanical resonance. The thickness ratio between the ferromagnetic and piezoelectric phases at which the magnetoelectric voltage coefficient is maximum is determined. The calculated magnetoelectric voltage coefficients for Permendur-PZT (lead zirconate titanate) structures are presented and compared with the experimental data.     

Magnetoelectric effect in an asymmetric layered magnet-piezoelectric structure

The magnetoelectric effect in magnet-piezoelectric layered composite structures is discussed. The magnetoelectric voltage and the magnetoelectric coefficient are calculated taking into account bending deformations that accompany tensile and compressive strains in structures with asymmetric positions of magnetic layers relative to the neutral plane. It is demonstrated that bending deformations lead to a nonuniform distribution of the electric field over the thickness of the piezoelectric layer and to a nonmonotonic dependence of the magnetoelectric coefficient on the thickness ratio of the layers in the structure.     

Emergent ferroelectricity in disordered tri-color multilayer structure comprised of ferromagnetic manganites

Multiferroic materials,showing the coexistence and coupling of ferroelectric and magnetic orders,are of great technological and fundamental importance.However,the limitation of single phase multiferroics with robust magnetization and polarization hinders the magnetoelectric effect from being applied practically.Magnetic frustration,which can induce ferroelectricity,gives rise to multiferroic behavior.In this paper,we attempt to construct an artificial magnetically frustrated structure comprised of manganites to induce ferroelectricity.A disordered stacking of manganites is expected to result in frustration at interfaces.We report here that a tri-color multilayer structure comprised of non-ferroelectric La_(0.9)Ca_(0.1)MnO_3(A)/Pr_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)MnO_3(B)/Pr_(0.85)Sr_(0.15)MnO_3(C) layers with the disordered arrangement of ABC-ACBCAB-CBA-BAC-BCA is prepared to form magnetoelectric multiferroics.The multilayer film exhibits evidence of ferroelectricity at room temperature,thus presenting a candidate for multiferroics.     

Frequency response of magnetoelectric effect in piezoelectric-magnetostrictive disk-ring composite structures

A theoretical model is presented for frequency dependence of magnetoelectric (ME) effect in piezoelectric-magnetostrictive disk-ring composite structures. Expressions for ME voltage coefficients in piezoelectric-magnetostrictive (PE-MS) disk-ring and MS-PE disk-ring are obtained by solving elastodynamic equations. The calculated resonance frequency and frequency dependence of ME voltage coefficients are in good agreement with the experimental results. This model indicates better mechanical coupling in disk-ring structure than that in traditional layered structure, and this may be responsible for the enhancing ME effect. The analysis suggests the disk-ring composites structures are promising for magnetoelectric applications.     

Theory of magnetoelectric effect in double-layer ferromagnetic-piezoelectric structures

A theory of magnetoelectric effect in double-layer ferromagnetic-piezoelectric plate-shape structures is presented. Using the material and motion of continuum equations, an expression for the magnetic coefficient is derived in terms of the parameters characterizing the magnetic and piezoelectric phases. It is shown that in the region of electromagnetic resonance there is a considerable increase in the magnetoelectric coefficient value. A relationship is obtained between the ferromagnetic and piezoelectric thicknesses for which the magnetoelectric coefficient is maximal. The coefficients calculated for the structures based on permendure — plumbum zirconate-titanate are given, and the results of calculations are compared to the experimental data.__________Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 3–6, December 2004.     

Space-time parity violation and magnetoelectric interactions in antiferromagnets

The properties of antiferromagnetic materials with violated space-time parity are considered. Particular attention is given to the bismuth ferrite BiFeO₃ ferroelectric magnet. This material is distinguished from other antiferromagnets in that the inversion center is absent in its crystal and magnetic structures. This circumstance gives rise to diversified and unusual properties, namely, to the appearance of a spatially modulated spin structure and to the unique possibility of the linear magnetoelectric effect coexisting with a weak ferromagnetic moment. The magnetic-induced phase transitions accompanied by the suppression of the modulated spin structure and appearance of a number of new and unusual effects are considered. These are the linear magnetoelectric effect and the appearance of a toroidal moment and a weak ferromagnetic moment of the magnetoelectric nature.     

Wide-band magnetoelectric characterization of a ferrite-piezoelectric multilayer using a pulsed magnetic field

The use of a pulsed magnetic field for studies on frequency characteristics of the magnetoelectric (ME) effect in multilayer composite structures is described. The method is based on the excitation of a ferrite-lead zirconate titanate multilayer with short magnetic field pulses, followed by the measurement and Fourier analysis of the ME response signal. It is shown that the ME voltage coefficient α_E generally decreases as the frequency increases from 1 kHz to 1 MHz except (i) at some discrete frequencies where the coefficient increases by an order of magnitude due to electromechanical resonance in the structure and (ii) a local maximum at 2-4 kHz in α_E vs. frequency due to relaxation processes caused by the conductivity of individual layers.     

Magnetoelectric effect in a magnetostrictive-piezoelectric bilayer structure

The results of theoretical and experimental investigations of the magnetoelectric effect in a magnetostrictive-piezoelectric bilayer structure have been presented. The expression for the magnetoelectric voltage coefficient in the region of electromechanical resonance has been derived based on the joint solution of the equations of motion for the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric media and the constitutive relations. The dependence of the magnitude of the effect on the thickness of the ferrite and piezoelectric layers has been analyzed. The experimental results for nickel-lead zirconate-titanate bilayer structures have been reported. The theoretical results agree perfectly with the experimental data.     

Predicted magnetoelectric effect in Fe/BaTiO3 multilayers: ferroelectric control of magnetism

An unexplored physical mechanism which produces a magnetoelectric effect in ferroelectric-ferromagnetic multilayers is studied based on first-principles calculations. Its origin is a change in bonding at the ferroelectric-ferromagnet interface that alters the interface magnetization when the electric polarization reverses. Using Fe/BaTiO3 multilayers as a representative model, we show a sizable difference in magnetic moments of Fe and Ti atoms at the two interfaces dissimilar by the orientation of the local electric dipole moments. The predicted magnetoelectric effect opens a new direction to control magnetic properties of thin-film layered structures by electric fields.     

复合多铁链的磁电耦合行为与外场调控

对含有界面磁电耦合的有限长铁电-铁磁多铁链体系进行了研究,基于矢量离散化思想,构建了描述其磁电性质的微观海森伯模型.利用传递矩阵方法获得了磁化强度、电极化强度、磁电化率等关键热力学量的解析表达式,重点探讨了界面磁电耦合、外场以及单离子各向异性对体系磁电耦合行为的影响和调控.研究结果表明,界面磁电耦合对体系的磁化强度和电极化强度均起促进作用.电场驱动下的电致磁电化率具有更强的磁电关联效应,预示着外电场能够有效地调控体系的磁性行为.而在磁致磁电化率中观察到的低温峰主要源于外磁场的诱导.此外,在高电场作用下体系比热容还呈现出有趣的三峰结构,这种三峰结构是自旋态的热激发以及电偶极矩的电场和温度共同激发导致的.     

Magnetoelectric effect in bilayer magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structure. Theory and experiment

Bilayer magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structures have certain advantages compared to bulk composites and this allows us to consider them as perspective materials for the development of devices based on the magnetoelectric effect. The theory of magnetoelectric effect in bilayer magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structure is presented taking into account the thickness dependence amplitude of the mechanical oscillations for the structures in form of rectangular plate. The equation for frequency dependence of the ME effect in the region on the electromechanical resonance was obtained, using motion equation, elastodynamics and electrostatic equations for the magnetostrictive, piezoelectric phases and taking into account the boundary conditions on the interface. The cases of longitudinal and transverse orientations of the electric and magnetic fields were considered. It is shown that the thickness dependence of the ME voltage coefficient has the maximum. The dependence between frequency and the thickness ratio of the layers is presented for both the theory and experiment.     

A theory of the inverse magnetoelectric effect in layered magnetostrictive–piezoelectric structures

A theory of the inverse magnetoelectric effect in layered structures has been presented. The theory is based on solving the equations of elastodynamics and electrostatics separately for the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases, taking into account the conditions at the interface between the phases. Expressions for the coefficient of inverse magnetoelectric conversion through the parameters characterizing the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases have been obtained. Theoretical dependences of the inverse magnetoelectric conversion coefficient on the frequency of the alternating-current electric field for the three-layer PZT–Ni–PZT structure and the two-layer terfenol-D–PZT structure have been calculated. The results of the calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Dynamic magnetoelectric effect in terbium molybdate

The electric polarization induced in ferroelectric terbium molybdate by a magnetic field linearly varying with time is measured. The measurements are performed in fields up to 19 T at different specified rates of change in the magnetic field at temperatures of 273 and 219 K. The results obtained indicate that there are magnetoelectric effects of two types. One of them is a conventional magnetoelectric effect, which is appropriately referred to as the static magnetoelectric effect. The other effect is characterized by the fact that the electric polarization increases with an increase in the rate of change in the magnetic field and relaxes with time to zero at a fixed nonzero field. This phenomenon is termed the dynamic magnetoelectric effect.     

Study of magnetoelectric coupling effect in the hexagonal ferroelectromagnet

Soft-mode theory based on Diffour model for ferroelectric subsystem, and mean-field theory as well as Heisenberg model for antiferromagnetic subsystem are utilized to investigate the magnetoelectric coupling effect in a hexagonal ferroelectromagnet, in which the ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic orders spontaneously coexist below a certain temperature. An anomaly of polarization at the magnetic transition temperature is ascribed to the effect of magnetoelectric coupling. The magnetic excitation has also been studied by spin-wave theory over the three-sublattice model. It is demonstrated that role of magnetoelectric coupling effect is not only related with the strength of magnetoelectric coupling but also special spin lattice structure. Our results show the magnetic specific heat induced by magnetic excitation experiences a suppression by the magnetoelectric coupling.     

Nonlinear magnetoelectric effect in composite multiferroics

The theoretical and experimental studies of the nonlinear magnetoelectric effect in composite multiferroics in the low-frequency spectral region and in the electromechanical resonance region have been performed. It has been shown that such structures demonstrate a nonlinear magnetoelectric effect, which is quadratic in ac magnetic field strength at weak magnetic fields. In the region of the electromechanical resonance, the resonance excitation of an electric field occurs by means of ac magnetic field at a frequency lower than the resonance frequency by a factor of two. In the low-frequency spectral region, there is a difference of amplitude values of two neighboring voltage maxima due to the superposition of signals from the linear and nonlinear effects, and the difference is proportional to the dc magnetic field strength in weak fields. The results of the experimental study of the two-layer permendur-lead zirconate titanate structure are presented.     

Optical nonreciprocity in magnetic structures related to high-Tc superconductors

Rotation of the plane of polarization of reflected light (Kerr effect) is a direct manifestation of broken time-reversal symmetry and is generally associated with the appearance of a ferromagnetic moment. Here I identify magnetic structures that may arise within the unit cell of cuprate superconductors that generate polarization rotation despite the absence of a net moment. For these magnetic symmetries the Kerr effect is mediated by magnetoelectric coupling, which can arise when antiferromagnetic order breaks inversion symmetry. The structures identified are candidates for a time-reversal breaking phase in the pseudogap regime of the cuprates.     

Negative refraction and quantum vacuum effects in gyroelectric chiral medium and anisotropic magnetoelectric material

Some nontrivial effects (negative refraction and quantum vacuum effects) in gyroelectric chiral medium and magnetoelectric material are studied. It is shown that the refractive indices corresponding to some of the eigen modes in the gyroelectric chiral medium and magnetoelectric material may have negative real parts since both the gyroelectric and magnetoelectric parameters can dramatically reduce the refractive indices in certain frequency bands. As an anisotropic electromagnetic environment could be created due to the breaking of universal symmetry of vacuum mode distribution (and hence the noncompensation effect of a pair of counter‐propagating vacuum modes arises) inside the magnetoelectric material, the quantum vacuum in such an anisotropic electromagnetic environment may have a nonzero angular momentum. A novel quantum vacuum effect (angular momentum transfer between the quantum vacuum and the anisotropic magnetoelectric material) that may accompany the effect of magnetoelectric negative refraction is suggested. Such a nontrivial effect can be utilized to design sensitive, accurate measurement techniques, e.g., nanoscale‐sensitivity sensor.