Ferroelectricity in the magnetic E-phase of orthorhombic perovskites.
We show that the symmetry of the spin zigzag chain E phase of the orthorhombic perovskite manganites and nickelates allows for the existence of a finite ferroelectric polarization. The proposed microscopic mechanism is independent of spin-orbit coupling. We predict that the polarization induced by the E-type magnetic order can potentially be enhanced by up to 2 orders of magnitude with respect to that in the spiral magnetic phases of TbMnO3 and similar multiferroic compounds.
Sergienko
Ivan A
IA
Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
Sen
Cengiz
C
Dagotto
Elbio
E