Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
2 p.m., Thursday, March 2, 2006
Room 1201, Physics Building
Neutron Scattering Studies of a Multiferroic: Spin waves and Magnetic Order
in HoMnO3
Owen Vajk
(NIST Gaithersburg)
Abstract: Although there are many ferroelectric and magnetic
materials, very few have simultaneous magnetic and ferroelectric order. Among
this rare class of solids, known as mutiferroics, only a select few exhibit
significant coupling between the magnetic and ferroelectric properties. These
exotic materials have attracted added attention recently because of the
possibility of using these coupled order parameters in novel device
applications. We have performed neutron scattering studies of HoMnO3,
a multiferroic which exhibits significant magnetic-ferroelectric coupling.
Field-dependent diffraction measurements reveal a complex phase diagram with
multiple spin reorientation transitions. Inelastic measurements are used to
establish the primary magnetic interactions, and also give clues about the
possible origin of the ferroelectric-magnetic coupling. Our results are crucial
first steps towards a fuller understanding of the interaction between magnetism
and ferroelectricity in this complex multiferroic material.
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Host: Drew
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