Abstract
An universal microscopic mechanism to understand the interplay between the electric and magnetic degrees of freedom in noncollinear multiferroics is developed. In a system with a strong spin-orbit coupling, we show that there is a pure electric mechanism that the ferroelectricity is generated by noncollinear magnetism through an electric current cancellation process, which saves the pure electric energy. This mechanism provides a simple estimation and sets a physical limitation of the value of ferroelectricity in noncollinear multiferroic materials.
Published in:
Physical Review Letters 100,7 (2008)
Link to original published article:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.077202
Keywords
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Date of Version
January 2008
Recommended Citation
Hu, J. P., "Microscopic origin of magnetoelectric coupling in noncollinear multiferroics" (2008). Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications. Paper 872.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/physics_articles/872