Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
07:03
Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
Electric-field-induced magnetization reversal in a ferromagnet-multiferroic heterostructure
J T Heron1, M Trassin, K Ashraf
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|December 21, 2011
Summary
We demonstrate electric-field-induced magnetization reversal in a ferromagnet-multiferroic system at room temperature. This nonvolatile effect offers a pathway to low-power spintronic devices by eliminating conventional magnetic switching.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional spintronic devices rely on magnetic fields for magnetization switching, which is energy-intensive.
- Electric-field control of magnetism is a key goal for developing low-power electronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate nonvolatile, room-temperature magnetization reversal using only an electric field.
- To explore the potential of ferromagnet-multiferroic systems for energy-efficient spintronics.
Main Methods:
- Investigated a ferromagnet-multiferroic heterostructure.
- Applied electric fields to induce and observe magnetization reversal.
- Analyzed the interfacial magnetic coupling mechanism.
Main Results:
- Achieved reversible, nonvolatile magnetization reversal at room temperature via electric field application.
- Confirmed the role of interfacial magnetic coupling, dictated by the multiferroic component.
- Demonstrated electric-field control over magnetic states.
Conclusions:
- Electric-field-induced magnetization reversal in ferromagnet-multiferroic systems is feasible at room temperature.
- This approach offers a low-energy consumption alternative to conventional magnetic switching methods.
- Highlights potential for next-generation spintronic devices and magnetoelectric applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Ferromagnetism
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
01:27Magnetic Fields
A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
01:30Paramagnetism
Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...
01:26Diamagnetism
Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
01:31Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
In linear magnetic materials, like paramagnets and diamagnets, magnetization is proportional to the magnetic field intensity. The constant of proportionality, a dimensionless number, is called magnetic susceptibility. The value of the susceptibility depends on the type of material.
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
01:23Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...