Electric polarization reversal and memory in a multiferroic material induced by magnetic fields

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 429; no. 6990; pp. 392 - 395
• Main Authors: Hur, N., Park, S., Sharma, P. A., Ahn, J. S., Guha, S., Cheong, S-W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.05.2004; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dielectric properties of solids and liquids; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis; Electricity; Exact sciences and technology; Humanities and Social Sciences; letter; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Magnetism; Magnetization curves, hysteresis, Barkhausen and related effects; Magnetization curves, magnetization reversal, hysteresis, barkhausen and related effects; Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects, magnetostriction; Memory; multidisciplinary; Physics; Polarization; Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Inorganic compounds; Magnetization; Ternary compounds; Transition element compounds; Poling; Magnetic field effects; Experimental study; Magnetic susceptibility; Terbium oxides; Manganese oxides; Dielectric polarization; Ferroelectricity; Magnetoelectric effects; Magnetism; Permittivity; Memory effect
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature02572

Ferroelectric and magnetic materials are a time-honoured subject of study and have led to some of the most important technological advances to date. Magnetism and ferroelectricity are involved with local spins and off-centre structural distortions, respectively. These two seemingly unrelated phenomena can coexist in certain unusual materials, termed multiferroics 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 . Despite the possible coexistence of ferroelectricity and magnetism, a pronounced interplay between these properties has rarely been observed 6 , 12 . This has prevented the realization of multiferroic devices offering such functionality 13 . Here, we report a striking interplay between ferroelectricity and magnetism in the multiferroic TbMn 2 O 5 , demonstrated by a highly reproducible electric polarization reversal and permanent polarization imprint that are both actuated by an applied magnetic field. Our results point to new device applications such as magnetically recorded ferroelectric memory.