Local Weak Ferromagnetism in Single-Crystalline Ferroelectric BiFeO₃

TY - JOUR

T1 - Local Weak Ferromagnetism in Single-Crystalline Ferroelectric BiFeO3

AU - Ramazanoglu...[et al.], M.

AU - Laver, M.

AU - Ratcliff, W.

AU - Watson, S. M.

PY - 2011/11/11

Y1 - 2011/11/11

N2 - Polarized small-angle neutron scattering studies of single-crystalline multiferroic BiFeO3 reveal a long-wavelength spin density wave generated by ∼1° spin canting of the spins out of the rotation plane of the antiferromagnetic cycloidal order. This signifies weak ferromagnetism within mesoscopic regions of dimension 0.03 microns along [11̄0], to several microns along [111], confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The average local magnetization is 0.06μB/Fe. Our results provide an indication of the intrinsic macroscopic magnetization to be expected in ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films under strain, where the magnetic cycloid is suppressed.

AB - Polarized small-angle neutron scattering studies of single-crystalline multiferroic BiFeO3 reveal a long-wavelength spin density wave generated by ∼1° spin canting of the spins out of the rotation plane of the antiferromagnetic cycloidal order. This signifies weak ferromagnetism within mesoscopic regions of dimension 0.03 microns along [11̄0], to several microns along [111], confirming a long-standing theoretical prediction. The average local magnetization is 0.06μB/Fe. Our results provide an indication of the intrinsic macroscopic magnetization to be expected in ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films under strain, where the magnetic cycloid is suppressed.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.207206

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.207206

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22181767

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 107

SP - 207206

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 20

ER -