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Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
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Hyperfine and crystal field interactions in multiferroic HoCrO3
C M N Kumar1,2,3, Y Xiao1, H S Nair4
1Jülich Centre for Neutron Science JCNS and Peter Grünberg Institut PGI, JARA-FIT, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal
|September 17, 2016
Summary
This study investigates multiferroicity in Holmium Chromium Oxide (HoCrO3) using specific heat and neutron scattering. Strong hyperfine and crystal field interactions were found, correlating crystal electric field excitations with ferroelectricity.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Background:
- Multiferroicity in rare-earth chromites (RCrO3) is a complex phenomenon with multiple potential origins.
- Understanding the interplay of magnetic and electric properties is crucial for developing novel functional materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the origins of multiferroicity in Holmium Chromium Oxide (HoCrO3).
- To investigate the relationship between crystal electric field excitations and ferroelectricity in HoCrO3.
Main Methods:
- Specific heat measurements were conducted across a wide temperature range (100 mK–290 K).
- Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed at various temperatures (1.5–200 K).
Main Results:
- Determined significant hyperfine splitting (22.5 μeV) and crystal field transitions (1.379–23.44 meV) in HoCrO3.
- Observed quasielastic scattering and a large linear term in specific heat, attributed to short-range exchange interactions driving ferroelectricity.
- Identified a direct correlation between crystal electric field excitations of Holmium ions and ferroelectricity around 60 K.
Conclusions:
- HoCrO3 exhibits strong hyperfine and crystal field interactions contributing to its multiferroic properties.
- Short-range magnetic interactions play a role in the observed ferroelectricity.
- Multiple driving forces contribute to ferroelectricity and multiferroicity in HoCrO3 and related rare-earth chromites.
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