Local weak ferromagnetism in single-crystalline ferroelectric BiFeO 3

M. Ramazanoglu*, M. Laver, W. Ratcliff, S. M. Watson, W. C. Chen, A. Jackson, K. Kothapalli, Seongsu Lee, S. W. Cheong, V. Kiryukhin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number207206
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume107
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation

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