Novel Field-Induced Phases in HoMnO3 at Low Temperatures

The novel field-induced re-entrant phase in multiferroic hexagonal HoMnO3 is investigated to lower temperatures by dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, and specific heat measurements at various magnetic fields. Two new phases have been unambiguously identified below the Neel transition temperature, TN=76 K, for magnetic fields up to 50 kOe. The existence of an intermediate phase between the P[6]_3[c]m and P[6]_3c[m] magnetic structures (previously predicted from dielectric measurements) was confirmed and the magnetic properties of this phase have been investigated. At low temperatures (T<5 K) a dome shaped phase boundary characterized by a magnetization jump and a narrow heat capacity peak was detected between the magnetic fields of 5 kOe and 18 kOe. The transition across this phase boundary is of first order and the magnetization and entropy jumps obey the magnetic analogue of the Clausius-Clapeyron relation. Four of the five low-temperature phases coexist at a tetracritical point at 2 K and 18 kOe. The complex magnetic phase diagram so derived provides an informative basis for unraveling the underlying driving forces for the occurrence of the various phases and the coupling between the different orders.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure

Strong spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic HoMnO3_{3}: Thermal expansion anomalies and pressure effect

Evidence for a strong spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic HoMnO_3 is derived from thermal expansion measurements along a- and c-axis. The magnetoelastic effect results in sizable anomalies of the thermal expansivities at the antiferromagnetic (T_N) and the spin rotation (T_{SR}) transition temperatures as well as in a negative c-axis expansivity below room temperature. The coupling between magnetic orders and dielectric properties below T_N is explained by the lattice strain induced by the magnetoelastic effect. At T_{SR} various physical quantities show discontinuities that are thermodynamically consistent with a first order phase transition

Low temperature dielectric anomalies in HoMnO_3: The complex phase diagram

The dielectric constant of multiferroic hexagonal HoMnO_3 exhibits an unprecedented diversity of anomalies at low temperatures (1.8 K< T <10 K) and under external magnetic fields related to magnetic phase transitions in the coupled system of Ho moments, Mn spins, and ferroelectric polarization. The derived phase diagram is far more complex than previously assumed including reentrant phases, phase transitions with distinct thermal and field hysteresis, as well as several multicritical points. Magnetoelastic interactions introduce lattice anomalies at the magnetic phase transitions. The re-evaluation of the T-H phase diagram of HoMnO_3 is demanded.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Giant Magnetoelectric Effect in a Multiferroic Material with a High Ferroelectric Transition Temperature

We present a unique example of giant magnetoelectric effect in a conventional multiferroic HoMnO3, where polarization is very large (~56 mC/m2) and the ferroelectric transition temperature is higher than the magnetic ordering temperature by an order. We attribute the uniqueness of the giant magnetoelectric effect to the ferroelectricity induced entirely by the off-center displacement of rare earth ions with large magnetic moments. This finding suggests a new avenue to design multiferroics with large polarization and higher ferroelectric transition temperature as well as large magnetoelectric effects

A Low Temperature Nonlinear Optical Rotational Anisotropy Spectrometer for the Determination of Crystallographic and Electronic Symmetries

Nonlinear optical generation from a crystalline material can reveal the symmetries of both its lattice structure and underlying ordered electronic phases and can therefore be exploited as a complementary technique to diffraction based scattering probes. Although this technique has been successfully used to study the lattice and magnetic structures of systems such as semiconductor surfaces, multiferroic crystals, magnetic thin films and multilayers, challenging technical requirements have prevented its application to the plethora of complex electronic phases found in strongly correlated electron systems. These requirements include an ability to probe small bulk single crystals at the micron length scale, a need for sensitivity to the entire nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor, oblique light incidence reflection geometry and incident light frequency tunability among others. These measurements are further complicated by the need for extreme sample environments such as ultra low temperatures, high magnetic fields or high pressures. In this review we present a novel experimental construction using a rotating light scattering plane that meets all the aforementioned requirements. We demonstrate the efficacy of our scheme by making symmetry measurements on a micron scale facet of a small bulk single crystal of Sr$_2$IrO$_4$ using optical second and third harmonic generation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Novel Nonreciprocal Acoustic Effects in Antiferromagnets

The possible occurrence of nonreciprocal acoustic effects in antiferromagnets in the absence of an external magnetic field is investigated using both (i) a microscopic formulation of the magnetoelastic interaction between spins and phonons and (ii) symmetry arguments. We predict for certain antiferromagnets the existence of two new nonreciprocal (non-time invariant) effects: A boundary-condition induced nonreciprocal effect and the occurrence of transversal phonon modes propagating in opposite directions having different velocities. Estimates are given and possible materials for these effects to be observed are suggested.Comment: Euro. Phys. Lett. (in press

Advanced resistivity model for arbitrary magnetization orientation applied to a series of compressive- to tensile-strained (Ga,Mn)As layers

The longitudinal and transverse resistivities of differently strained (Ga,Mn)As layers are theoretically and experimentally studied as a function of the magnetization orientation. The strain in the series of (Ga,Mn)As layers is gradually varied from compressive to tensile using (In,Ga)As templates with different In concentrations. Analytical expressions for the resistivities are derived from a series expansion of the resistivity tensor with respect to the direction cosines of the magnetization. In order to quantitatively model the experimental data, terms up to the fourth order have to be included. The expressions derived are generally valid for any single-crystalline cubic and tetragonal ferromagnet and apply to arbitrary surface orientations and current directions. The model phenomenologically incorporates the longitudinal and transverse anisotropic magnetoresistance as well as the anomalous Hall effect. The resistivity parameters obtained from a comparison between experiment and theory are found to systematically vary with the strain in the layer.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Theory of Non-Reciprocal Optical Effects in Antiferromagnets: The Case Cr_2O_3

A microscopic model of non-reciprocal optical effects in antiferromagnets is developed by considering the case of Cr_2O_3 where such effects have been observed. These effects are due to a direct coupling between light and the antiferromagnetic order parameter. This coupling is mediated by the spin-orbit interaction and involves an interplay between the breaking of inversion symmetry due to the antiferromagnetic order parameter and the trigonal field contribution to the ligand field at the magnetic ion. We evaluate the matrix elements relevant for the non-reciprocal second harmonic generation and gyrotropic birefringence.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Symmetry Analysis of Second Harmonic Generation at Surfaces of Antiferromagnets

Using group theory we classify the nonlinear magneto-optical response at low-index surfaces of fcc antiferromagnets, such as NiO. Structures consisting of one atomic layer are discussed in detail. We find that optical second harmonic generation is sensitive to surface antiferromagnetism in many cases. We discuss the influence of a second type of magnetic atoms, and also of a possible oxygen sublattice distortion on the output signal. Finally, our symmetry analysis yields the possibility of antiferromagnetic surface domain imaging even in the presence of magnetic unit-cell doubling.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures incorporated. Accepted to Phys. Rev. B, scheduled for July'9