The multiferroic phases of (Eu:Y)MnO3

We report on structural, magnetic, dielectric, and thermodynamic properties of (Eu:Y)MnO3 for Y doping levels 0 <= x < 1. This system resembles the multiferroic perovskite manganites RMnO3 (with R= Gd, Dy, Tb) but without the interference of magnetic contributions of the 4f-ions. In addition, it offers the possibility to continuously tune the influence of the A-site ionic radii. For small concentrations x <= 0.1 we find a canted antiferromagnetic and paraelectric groundstate. For higher concentrations x <= 0.3 ferroelectric polarization coexists with the features of a long wavelength incommensurate spiral magnetic phase analogous to the observations in TbMnO3. In the intermediate concentration range around x = 0.2 a multiferroic scenario is realized combining weak ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism, presumably due to a canted spiral magnetic structure.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Coupling of phonons and electromagnons in GdMnO_3

The infrared and Terahertz properties of GdMnO_3 have been investigated as function of temperature and magnetic field, with special emphasis on the phase boundary between the incommensurate and the canted antiferromagnetic structures. The heterogeneous incommensurate phase reveals strong magnetodielectric effects, characterized by significant magnetoelectric contributions to the static dielectric permittivity and by the existence of electrically excited magnons (electromagnons). In the commensurate canted antiferromagnetic phase the magnetoelectric contributions to the dielectric constant and electromagnons are suppressed. The corresponding spectral weight is transferred to the lowest lattice vibration demonstrating the strong coupling of phonons with electromagnons.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Spin-controlled Mott-Hubbard bands in LaMnO_3 probed by optical ellipsometry

Spectral ellipsometry has been used to determine the dielectric function of an untwinned crystal of LaMnO_3 in the spectral range 0.5-5.6 eV at temperatures 50 K < T < 300 K. A pronounced redistribution of spectral weight is found at the Neel temperature T_N = 140 K. The anisotropy of the spectral weight transfer matches the magnetic ordering pattern. A superexchange model quantitatively describes spectral weight transfer induced by spin correlations. This analysis implies that the lowest-energy transitions around 2 eV are intersite d-d transitions, and that LaMnO_3 is a Mott-Hubbard insulator.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Uniaxial pressure dependencies of the phase transitions in GdMnO3_3

GdMnO$_3$ shows an incommensurate antiferromagnetic order below $\simeq 42$ K, transforms into a canted A-type antiferromagnet below $\simeq 20$ K, and for finite magnetic fields along the b axis ferroelectric order occurs below $\simeq 12$ K. From high-resolution thermal expansion measurements along all three principal axes, we determine the uniaxial pressure dependencies of the various transition temperatures and discuss their correlation to changes of the magnetic exchange couplings in $R$MnO$_3$ ($R = {\rm La, ... Dy}$).Comment: 2 pages, 3 figures, submitted to JMMM (Proceedings of ICM'06, Kyoto

Excitation and Detection of THz Coherent Spin Waves in Antiferromagnetic α−Fe2O3\mathrm{\alpha-Fe_2O_3}

The efficiency of ultrafast excitation of spins in antiferromagnetic $\mathrm{\alpha-Fe_{2}O_{3}}$ using nearly single-cycle THz pulse is studied as a function of the polarization of the THz pulse and the sample temperature. Above the Morin point the most efficient excitation is achieved when the magnetic field of the THz pulse is perpendicular to the antiferromagnetically coupled spins. Using the experimental results and equations of motion for spins, we show that the mechanism of the spin excitation above and below the Morin point relies on magnetic-dipole interaction of the THz magnetic field with spins and the efficiency of the coupling is proportional to the time derivative of the magnetic field