Abstract
The evolution of local ferroelectric lattice distortions in multiferroic is studied by x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory. We show that the anion/cation displacements smoothly decrease with increasing Mn content, thereby reducing the ferroelectric transition from 700 to 100 K at , where the ferromagnetic Curie temperature reaches its maximum. First principles calculations explain this quenching by different local bond contributions of the Mn shell compared to the Ge shell in excellent quantitative agreement with the experiments.
- Received 13 October 2015
- Revised 27 July 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.054112
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