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arXiv · 1212.0485

Successive magnetic phase transitions and multiferroicity in Spin-1 triangular lattice antiferromagnet Ba$_3$NiNb$_2$O$_9$

J. Hwang·E. S. Choi·F. Ye·C. R. Dela Cruz·Y. Xin·H. D. Zhou·P. Schlottmann
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Abstract

We report the magnetic and electric properties of Ba$_3$NiNb$_2$O$_9$, which is a quasi-two-dimensional spin-1 triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) with trigonal structure. At low $T$ and with increasing magnetic field, the system evolves from a 120 degree magnetic ordering phase (A phase) to an up-up-down ($uud$) phase (B phase) with a change of slope at 1/3 of the saturation magnetization, and then to an "oblique" phase (C phase). Accordingly, the ferroelectricity switches on at each phase boundary with appearance of spontaneous polarization. Therefore, Ba$_3$NiNb$_2$O$_9$ is a unique TLAF exhibiting both $uud$ phase and multiferroicity.

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J. Hwang, E. S. Choi, F. Ye, C. R. Dela Cruz, Y. Xin, H. D. Zhou, P. Schlottmann. 2012-12-03. Successive magnetic phase transitions and multiferroicity in Spin-1 triangular lattice antiferromagnet Ba$_3$NiNb$_2$O$_9$. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.109.257205

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