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Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
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Terahertz electric-field-driven dynamical multiferroicity in SrTiO3.
M Basini1, M Pancaldi2,3, B Wehinger2,4
1Department of Physics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Nature
|April 10, 2024
Summary
Scientists induced room-temperature magnetization in strontium titanate by rotating ions with light. This dynamical multiferroicity offers new pathways for ultrafast magnetic switches and controlling magnetic states.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Collective order in matter is a fundamental physics phenomenon.
- Dynamical control of matter states beyond thermodynamic equilibrium is a growing research area.
- Dynamical multiferroicity theoretically describes magnetization from time-dependent electric polarization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide experimental evidence for room-temperature dynamical multiferroicity.
- To demonstrate magnetization induction in a non-ferromagnetic material via lattice vibrations.
- To explore light-based control of magnetic properties.
Main Methods:
- Resonant driving of the infrared-active soft phonon mode in SrTiO3 using circularly polarized terahertz electric fields.
- Time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements to detect magnetization.
- Theoretical modeling using coupled nonlinear oscillators and ab initio calculations with self-consistent phonon theory.
Main Results:
- Experimental observation of room-temperature magnetization in strontium titanate (SrTiO3).
- Coherent rotation of ions induced by the terahertz field generates a magnetic moment.
- Theoretical models qualitatively reproduced experimental observations, with quantitative agreement upon including the Barnett effect.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a novel mechanism for inducing magnetism via light-controlled lattice vibrations.
- Established experimental evidence for dynamical multiferroicity in SrTiO3 at room temperature.
- Opened new avenues for ultrafast magnetic switches and light-driven magnetism control.
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