Magnetic switching and phase competition in the multiferroic antiferromagnet Mn1−xFexWO4

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Physical Review B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.193101· OSTI ID:941608

Ye, Feng ^[1]; Ren, Y. ^[2]; Fernandez-Baca, Jaime A ^[1]; Mook, Jr, Herbert A ^[1]; Lynn, J. W. ^[3]; Chaudhury, R. P. ^[4]; Wang, Y. Q. ^[4]; Lorenz, Bernd ^[1]; Chu, C. W. ^[4]

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1. ORNL
2. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
3. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
4. University of Houston, Houston

Elastic neutron scattering is used to study the spin correlations in the multiferroic Mn1−xFexWO4 with x=0.035, 0.05, and 0.10. The noncollinear incommensurate ICM magnetic structure associated with the ferroelectric FE phase in pure MnWO4 is suppressed at x=0.035 and completely absent at x=0.10. The ICM spin order and FE phase can be restored by applying a magnetic field along the spin easy axis. The low-T commensurate magnetic structure extends in both H/T with increasing Fe concentration. The systematic evolution of the magnetic and electric properties indicates that the noncollinear ICM spin order results from competing magnetic interactions and its stabilization can be tuned by the internal x or external magnetic-field perturbations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); High Flux Isotope Reactor
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 941608
• Journal Information: Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 78
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRONS
SCATTERING
SPIN
STABILIZATION