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arXiv · 0809.2108

Singe ferroelectric and chiral magnetic domain of single-crystalline BiFeO$_3$ in an electric field

Seongsu Lee·Taekjib Choi·W. Ratcliff II·R. Erwin·S-W. Cheong·V. Kiryukhin
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Abstract

We report polarized neutron scattering and piezoresponse force microscopy studies of millimeter-sized single crystals of multiferroic BiFeO$_3$. The crystals, grown below the Curie temperature, consist of a single ferroelectric domain. Two unique electric polarization directions, as well as the populations of equivalent spiral magnetic domains, can be switched reversibly by an electric field. A ferroelectric monodomain with a single-$q$ single-helicity spin spiral can be obtained. This level of control, so far unachievable in thin films, makes single-crystal BiFeO$_3$ a promising object for multiferroics research.

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Seongsu Lee, Taekjib Choi, W. Ratcliff II, R. Erwin, S-W. Cheong, V. Kiryukhin. 2008-09-11. Singe ferroelectric and chiral magnetic domain of single-crystalline BiFeO$_3$ in an electric field. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.78.100101

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