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Epitaxial-strain-induced multiferroicity in SrMnO3 from first principles.
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8019, USA. jhlee@physics.rutgers.edu
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
First-principles calculations show that applying epitaxial strain to cubic strontium manganite (SrMnO3) can induce a multiferroic ferroelectric-ferromagnetic state. This engineered material exhibits a large polarization and high magnetic transition temperature.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Solid-state chemistry
Background:
- Cubic SrMnO3 typically exhibits an antiferromagnetic-paraelectric ground state.
- Perovskites are known for their strain-polarization coupling.
- Spin-phonon coupling is a key interaction in magnetic materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for inducing multiferroicity in SrMnO3.
- To explore the interplay between spin-phonon and strain-polarization coupling.
- To determine the properties of the strain-induced ferroelectric-ferromagnetic state.
Main Methods:
- First-principles calculations were employed to model SrMnO3.
- The study focused on analyzing spin-phonon coupling.
- Epitaxial strain was systematically varied to observe phase transitions.
Main Results:
- A large spin-phonon coupling was identified in cubic SrMnO3.
- Ferromagnetic ordering was found to induce a polar instability.
- Increasing epitaxial strain transformed the ground state into a multiferroic ferroelectric-ferromagnetic phase.
- The engineered multiferroic state exhibits a computed polarization P(s) > 54 μC/cm² and a magnetic transition temperature T(c) > 92 K.
Conclusions:
- Epitaxial strain is an effective method to achieve multiferroicity in SrMnO3.
- The interplay between spin-phonon and strain-polarization coupling is crucial for this phenomenon.
- The predicted multiferroic state offers potential for novel electronic and magnetic applications.
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