Incommensurate magnetic structure in the orthorhombic perovskite ErMnO3

By combining dielectric, specific heat, and magnetization measurements and high-resolution neutron powder diffraction, we have investigated the thermodynamic and magnetic and structural properties of the metastable orthorhombic perovskite ErMnO3 prepared by high-pressure synthesis. The system becomes antiferromagnetically correlated below 42 K and undergoes a lock-in transition at 28 K with propagation wave vector (0, kb, 0), which remains incommensurate at low temperature. The intercorrelation between the magnetic structure and electric properties and the role of the rare earth moment are discussed.