Complex Spin Structures and Origin of the Magneto-Electric Coupling in YMn2O5

Abstract

By combining neutron four-circle diffraction and polarized neutron diffraction techniques we have determined the complex spin structures of a multiferroic, YMn2O5, that exhibits two ferroelectric phases at low temperatures. The obtained magnetic structure has spiral components in both the low temperature ferroelectric phases that are magnetically commensurate and incommensurate, respectively. Among proposed microscopic theories for the magneto-electric coupling, our results are consistent with both the spin-current model that requires a magnetic transverse (cycloidal) spiral structure in order to induce a spontaneous electric polarization and the magneto-restriction model. Our results also explain why the electric polarization changes at the commensurate-to-incommensurate phase transition.

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Cited by in corpus (13)

• Multiferroicity, The coupling between magnetic and polarization
• A Neutron diffraction study of multiferroics RMn2O5
• Magneto-electric effect in NdCrTiO5
• Determination of the intrinsic ferroelectric polarization in orthorhombic HoMnO3
• Experimental observation of ferrielectricity in multiferroic DyMn2O5: revisiting the electric polarization
• Magnetic excitations in the low-temperature ferroelectric phase of multiferroic YMn2O5 using inelastic neutron scattering
• The incommensurate magnetic structure of YMn2O5: a stringent test of the multiferroic mechanism
• Role of magnetic chirality in polarization flip upon commensurate-incommensurate magnetic phase transition in YMn${}_2$O${}_5$
• Reversing ferroelectric polarization in multiferroic DyMn2O5 by nonmagnetic Al substitution of Mn
• Spin-spiral states in undoped manganites
• Reduced crystal symmetry as origin of the ferroelectric polarization within the incommensurate magnetic phase of TbMn2O5
• Electronic charge transfer driven by spin cycloidal structure
• Polarisation dependence of magnetic Bragg scattering in YMn${}_2$O${}_5$