Persistent and Reversible Phase Control in GdMnO$_3$ near the Phase Boundary

TL;DR

This study explores how magnetic fields can reversibly switch phases in GdMnO$_3$, a material near a phase boundary, revealing large hysteresis effects and potential for phase control.

Contribution

We demonstrate persistent and reversible phase switching in GdMnO$_3$ using magnetic fields, based on detailed phase diagram analysis near the phase boundary.

Findings

Large temperature and magnetic-field hysteresis observed.

Successful magnetic-field-induced phase switching.

Phase diagram reveals strong phase competition.

Abstract

We have investigated temperature and magnetic-field dependence of dielectric properties in the orthorhombic GdMnO$_3$ single crystal which is located near the phase boundary between the ferroelectric/spiral-antiferromagnetic phase and the paraelectric/$A$-type-antiferromagnetic one. In this compound, strong phase competition between these two phases results in a unique phase diagram with large temperature and magnetic-field hystereses. Based on the phase diagram, we have successfully demonstrated the persistent and reversible phase switching between them by application of magnetic fields.