Magnetic switching and phase competition in the multiferroic Mn{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}WO{sub 4}.

Journal Article · Mon Nov 03 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.193101· OSTI ID:994048

Ye, F; Ren, Y; Fernandez-Baca, J A; Mook, H A; Lynn, J W; Chaudhury, R P; Wang, Y Q; Lorenz, B; Chu, C W; ORNL,

Elastic neutron scattering is used to study the spin correlations in the multiferroic Mn{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}WO{sub 4} with x = 0.035, 0.05, and 0.10. The noncollinear incommensurate (ICM) magnetic structure associated with the ferroelectric (FE) phase in pure MnWO{sub 4} 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: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC; NSF; T. L. L. Temple Foundation; R. Moores Endowment; U. S. Air Force Scientific Research; State of Texas
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 994048
• Report Number(s): ANL/XSD/JA-63049
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: Nov. 3, 2008 Vol. 78; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

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