Magnetoelectric coupling at the interface of BiFeO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 multilayers

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Physical Review B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.024422· OSTI ID:1027437

Calderon, M. J. ^[1]; Liang, Shuhua ^[2]; Yu, Rong ^[3]; Salafranca, Juan ^[4]; Scalapino, D. J. ^[5]; Dong, Shuai ^[6]; Yunoki, Seiji ^[7]; Brey, L. ^[1]; Moreo, Adriana ^[2]; Dagotto, Elbio R ^[2]

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1. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM)
2. ORNL
3. Rice University
4. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
5. University of California, Santa Barbara
6. Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing
7. RIKEN, Japan

Electric-field controlled exchange bias in a heterostructure composed of the ferromagnetic manganite La0.7Sr0.3MO3 and the ferroelectric antiferromagnetic BiFeO3 has recently been demonstrated experimentally. By means of a model Hamiltonian, we provide a possible explanation for the origin of this magnetoelectric coupling. We find, in agreement with experimental results, a net ferromagnetic moment at the BiFeO3 interface. The induced ferromagnetic moment is the result of the competition between the eg-electron double exchange and the t2g-spin antiferromagnetic superexchange that dominates in bulk BiFeO3. The balance of these simultaneous ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic tendencies is strongly affected by the interfacial electronic charge density, which, in turn, can be controlled by the BiFeO3 ferroelectric polarization.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1027437
• Journal Information: Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 84; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CHARGE DENSITY
ORIGIN
POLARIZATION