Magnetic reversal of the ferroelectric polarization in a multiferroic spinel oxide.
Ferroelectric transition has been detected in a ferrimagnetic spinel oxide of CoCr2O4 upon the transition to the conical spin order below 25 K. The direction [110] of the spontaneous polarization is normal to both the magnetization easy axis [001] and to the propagation axis [110] of the transverse spiral component, in accord with the prediction based on the spin-current model. The reversal of the spontaneous magnetization by a small magnetic field (approximately 0.1 T) induces the reversal of the spontaneous polarization, indicating the clamping of the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric domain walls.
Yamasaki
Y
Y
Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
Miyasaka
S
S
Kaneko
Y
Y
He
J-P
JP
Arima
T
T
Tokura
Y
Y