# Absence of commensurate ordering at the polarization flop transition in multiferroic DyMnO3

## TL;DR

This paper investigates the polarization flop transition in DyMnO3, revealing a continuous change in wave vector modulation unlike the abrupt change seen in similar materials, which may explain its giant magnetocapacitive effect.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into the lattice modulation behavior of DyMnO3 during polarization flop, contrasting with TbMnO3, and links this to its magnetocapacitive properties.

## Key findings

- Wave vector varies continuously through the polarization flop in DyMnO3.
- Contrasts with TbMnO3 where a sudden change occurs.
- Continuous modulation may be related to magnetocapacitive effects.

## Abstract

Ferroelectric spiral magnets DyMnO3 and TbMnO3 show similar behavior of electric polarization in applied magnetic fields. Studies of the field dependence of lattice modulations on the contrary show a completely different picture. Whereas in TbMnO3 the polarization flop from P||c to P||a is accompanied by a sudden change from incommensurate to commensurate wave vector modulation, in DyMnO3 the wave vector varies continuously through the flop transition. This smooth behavior may be related to the giant magnetocapacitive effect observed in DyMnO3.