Abstract
We report here that a Permalloy layer deposited on top of a multiferroic single crystal acquires an easy magnetic direction along the propagation vector of the cycloidal arrangement of antiferromagnetic moments in . This anisotropy originates from a direct magnetic coupling with the canted spins forming the cycloid. Moreover, we show that an electric field-induced change of electric polarization is able to toggle the direction of anisotropy in the ferromagnet through the magnetoelectric effect, which links the antiferromagnetic spins to the local polarization in .
- Received 4 September 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.257601
©2009 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Switching magnetism with electric fields
Published 14 December 2009
The magnetic state of a multiferroic device can be controlled purely by an electric field—a property that could greatly reduce overheating in data storage devices.
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