Cu3Nb2O8: A Multiferroic with Chiral Coupling to the Crystal Structure
Cu3Nb2O8: A Multiferroic with Chiral Coupling to the Crystal Structure
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DOI：
10.1103/physrevlett.107.137205
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发表时间：
2011-09-23
影响因子：
8.6
通讯作者：
Radaelli, P. G.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Johnson, R. D.;Nair, Sunil;Radaelli, P. G.
通过结合体相性质、中子衍射和非共振X射线衍射测量，我们证明了新的多铁性Cu3Nb2O8在出现广义螺旋磁序的同时变成了极性。电极化垂直于自旋的共同旋转平面--这一观察结果不能与为摆线多铁性而发展的传统理论相一致。我们的结果与顺磁群中允许的宏观结构旋转和磁致结构手性之间的耦合是一致的。
By combining bulk properties, neutron diffraction, and nonresonant x-ray diffraction measurements, we demonstrate that the new multiferroic Cu3Nb2O8 becomes polar simultaneously with the appearance of generalized helicoidal magnetic ordering. The electrical polarization is oriented perpendicularly to the common plane of rotation of the spins-an observation that cannot be reconciled with the conventional theory developed for cycloidal multiferroics. Our results are consistent with coupling between a macroscopic structural rotation, which is allowed in the paramagnetic group, and magnetically induced structural chirality.