Abstract
We report a combined neutron scattering and magnetization study on the multiferroic DyFeO3, which shows a very strong magnetoelectric effect. Applying magnetic field along the c axis, the weak ferromagnetic order of the Fe ions is quickly recovered from a spin reorientation transition, and the long-range antiferromagnetic order of Dy becomes a short-range one. We found that the short-range order concurs with the multiferroic phase and is responsible for its sizable hysteresis. Our H-T phase diagram suggests that the strong magnetoelectric effect in DyFeO3 has to be understood with not only the weak ferromagnetism of Fe but also the short-range antiferromagnetic order of Dy.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 140403 |
Journal | Physical Review B |
Volume | 93 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 6 2016 |
Funding
The work at RUC and USTC was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grants No. 2012CB921700, No. 2011CBA00112 and No. 2015CB921201), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 11034012, No. 11190024, No. 11374277 and No. U1532147), and the Opening Project of Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center (Grant No. PHMFF2015021). Research at SNS Oak Ridge National Laboratory was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy. J.W. acknowledges support from China Scholarship Council.