Control of coexisting magnetic phases by electric fields in NdFe3(BO3)4

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • S. Partzsch - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • J. E. Hamann-Borrero - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • C. Mazzoli - , European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Polytechnic University of Milan (Author)
  • J. Herrero-Martin - , European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Autonomous University of Barcelona (Author)
  • S. Valencia - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • R. Feyerherm - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • E. Dudzik - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • A. Vasiliev - , Lomonosov Moscow State University, Ural Federal University, National University of Science and Technology "MISiS" (Author)
  • L. Bezmaternykh - , RAS - Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch (Author)
  • B. Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • J. Geck - , University of Salzburg (Author)

Abstract

We present a resonant x-ray diffraction study of the magnetic order in NdFe3(BO3)4 and its coupling to applied electric fields. Our high-resolution measurements reveal two different coexisting magnetic phases, which can directly be controlled and manipulated by external electric fields. More specifically, the volume fraction of the collinear magnetic phase is found to strongly increase at the expense of helically ordered regions when an electric field is applied. These results confirm that the collinear magnetic phase is responsible for the ferroelectric polarization of NdFe3(BO3)4 and, more importantly, demonstrate that coexisting magnetic phases provide a route towards materials with a strong but yet hysteresis-free magnetoelectric response.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number054421
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume94
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 18 Aug 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2438-0672/work/158767762