Multiferroics: Different ways to combine magnetism and ferroelectricity
Abstract
Multiferroics — materials which are simultaneously (ferro)magnetic and ferroelectric, and often also ferroelastic — attract now considerable attention, both because of the interesting physics involved and as they promise important practical applications. In this paper, I give a survey of microscopic factors determining the coexistence of these properties, and discuss different possible routes to combine them in one material. In particular, the role of the occupation of d-states in transition metal perovskites is discussed, possible role of spiral magnetic structures is stressed, and the novel mechanism of ferroelectricity in magnetic systems due to combination of site-centred and bond-centred charge ordering is presented. Microscopic nature of multiferroic behaviour in several particular materials, including magnetite Fe 3O 4, is discussed.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
- Pub Date:
- November 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jmmm.2006.01.238
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0601696
- Bibcode:
- 2006JMMM..306....1K
- Keywords:
-
- 77.80.-e;
- 64.70.Kb;
- 75.80.+q;
- Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity;
- Solid-solid transitions;
- Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects magnetostriction;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons;
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
- E-Print:
- to be published as a Topical Review in Journ.Magn.Magn.Mater