Spiral spin structures and origin of the magnetoelectric coupling in YMn2O5

  • J. H. Kim
  • , S. H. Lee
  • , S. I. Park
  • , M. Kenzelmann
  • , A. B. Harris
  • , J. Schefer
  • , J. H. Chung
  • , C. F. Majkrzak
  • , M. Takeda
  • , S. Wakimoto
  • , S. Y. Park
  • , S. W. Cheong
  • , M. Matsuda
  • , H. Kimura
  • , Y. Noda
  • , K. Kakurai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

By combining neutron four-circle diffraction and polarized neutron-diffraction techniques we have determined the complex spin structures of a multiferroic YMn2O5 that exhibits two ferroelectric phases at low temperatures. The obtained magnetic structure has spiral components in both the low-temperature ferroelectric phases that are magnetically commensurate and incommensurate, respectively. Among proposed microscopic theories for the magnetoelectric coupling, our results are consistent with both the spin-current mechanism and the magnetostriction mechanism. Our results also explain why the electric polarization changes at the low-temperature commensurate-to-incommensurate phase transition.

Original languageEnglish
Article number245115
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume78
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2008
Externally publishedYes

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