Ferroelectrically induced weak ferromagnetism by design.
We present a strategy to design structures for which a polar lattice distortion induces weak ferromagnetism. We identify a large class of multiferroic oxides as potential realizations and use density-functional theory to screen several promising candidates. By elucidating the interplay between the polarization and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya vector, we show how the direction of the magnetization can be switched between 180 degrees symmetry equivalent states with an applied electric field.
Fennie
Craig J
CJ
Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.