Studies of magneto-electric crystals using spherical neutron polarimetry

• Published in: Solid state sciences Vol. 7; no. 6; pp. 682 - 689
• Main Authors: Brown, P. Jane, Forsyth, J. Bruce, Tasset, Francis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier Masson SAS 01.06.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antiferromagnetism; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Crystalline state (including molecular motions in solids); Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magneto-electricity; Neutron polarimetry; Physics; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Theory of crystal structure, crystal symmetry; calculations and modeling; Antiferromagnetism; Magneto-electricity; Neutron polarimetry; Polarization; Spherical shape; Magnetization; Structure factors; Crystals; Neutrons; Electric domains; Crystal symmetry; Unit cell; Chromium oxides; Polarimetry; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 1293-2558; 1873-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2004.11.014

Spherical neutron polarimetry provides a new tool for the study of magneto-electric crystals since it allows the rotation of scattered polarisation, characteristic of this class of crystal to be measured. Measurement of this rotation not only allows the relative populations of the magneto-electric domains to be determined, but also permits precise determination of the antiferromagnetic structure factors and hence of the magnetisation distribution leading to magneto-electricity. The method was initially applied to Cr 2O 3; in the present article we describe its use to study other magneto-electric crystals including LiCoPO 4 and MnGeO 3.