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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Neutrons have unique properties that make them an ideal probe of condensed matter systems. In this talk I will present neutron scattering results in the study of multiferroics, materials that have attracted considerable attention because of their large magnetoelectric effect and their potential use in electronic devices. I will show that neutrons are ideal to probe the spin arrangements and the nature of the magnetic interactions in these materials. I will present a neutron scattering study on MnWO4, a multiferroic material whose magnetic structure [2] is driven by magnetic frustration and long range interactions [2]. It has been argued that the multiferroic behavior in this material arises from competition of long range competing interactions which distort the spin spiral and break inversion symmetry [3]. . I will also present a more recent study on (Y-Lu)MnO3 where the magnetoelectric effect can be tuned by changing the degree of the trimerization distortion of Mn ions [4].
This work was supported by the Division of Scientific User Facilities, US DOE office of Basic Energy Sciences.
[1] Ye et al Phys, Rev. B 83, 140401 (R) (2011),
[2] Ye et al Phys, Rev. B 86, 194429 (2012),
[3] Solovyev, Phys Rev B 87, 144403 (2013)
[4] Tian et al Phys, Rev. B 89, 144417 (2014).
Host: Viviene Zapf