Superexchange-Driven Magnetoelectricity in Magnetic Vortices
Abstract
We demonstrate that magnetic vortices in which spins are coupled to polar lattice distortions via superexchange exhibit an unusually large linear magnetoelectric response. We show that the periodic arrays of vortices formed by frustrated spins on kagome lattices provide a realization of this concept; our ab initio calculations for such a model structure yield a magnetoelectric coefficient that is 30 times larger than that of prototypical single phase magnetoelectrics. Finally, we identify the design rules required to obtain such a response in a practical material.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.157203
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0810.0552
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvL.102o7203D
- Keywords:
-
- 75.80.+q;
- 71.15.Mb;
- 75.25.+z;
- 75.30.Et;
- Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects magnetostriction;
- Density functional theory local density approximation gradient and other corrections;
- Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials;
- Exchange and superexchange interactions;
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 6 figures