Abstract
Muon spin rotation and resonant soft X-ray scattering experiments on prototype multiferroics RMn2O5 (R = Y, Sm) are used to demonstrate that the local electric displacements are driven by the spin-current (SC) mechanism. Small local electric displacements were evaluated by observing spin polarization at ligand O ions, for which implanted muons served as an extremely sensitive probe. Our results for YMn2O5 provide evidence that the spin polarization of O ions forming a spin cycloid chain with Mn spins increases in proportion to the vector spin chirality (Si×Sj) of the Mn ions. This relationship strongly indicates that the charge transfer between O and Mn ions is driven by the SC mechanism, which leads to the ferroelectricity accompanying O spin polarization.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 224436 |
Journal | Physical Review B |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 Jun 1 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics