Control of the electric polarization flop direction by a canted magnetic field in a magnetoelectric multiferroic MnWO₄

The relationship between the magnetic field direction and the flopped ferroelectric polarization has been investigated for multiferroic MnWO ₄. We have observed that the ferroelectric polarization flop direction is switched without applying an electric field, when the direction of an applied magnetic field slightly deviates from the b axis within the ab-plane. The polarization flop direction during the phase transition between P//a and P//b phase in a canted magnetic fields has been experimentally determined. The stability of magnetoelectric domain walls in a canted magnetic field would play a key role in the directional control of the electric polarization flop phenomenon.