Magnetic reversal of the ferroelectric polarization in a multiferroic spinel oxide

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 May 26;96(20):207204. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.207204. Epub 2006 May 26.

Abstract

Ferroelectric transition has been detected in a ferrimagnetic spinel oxide of CoCr2O4 upon the transition to the conical spin order below 25 K. The direction [110] of the spontaneous polarization is normal to both the magnetization easy axis [001] and to the propagation axis [110] of the transverse spiral component, in accord with the prediction based on the spin-current model. The reversal of the spontaneous magnetization by a small magnetic field (approximately 0.1 T) induces the reversal of the spontaneous polarization, indicating the clamping of the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric domain walls.