title: Ferroelectricity in the magnetic E-phase of orthorhombic perovskites.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sergienko
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Elbio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dagotto