Control of chiral magnetism in multiferroic MnWO4 through an electric field

TL;DR

This study demonstrates electric field control of chiral magnetic order in multiferroic MnWO4, revealing hysteresis and memory effects, which could enable novel magnetoelectric device functionalities.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed neutron diffraction analysis showing electric field switching of chiral magnetism in MnWO4 near its ferroelectric transition.

Findings

Electric fields can switch chiral magnetic components near the ferroelectric transition.

Strong pinning of magnetic order causes hysteresis in the switching process.

MnWO4 exhibits a magnetoelectric memory effect across phase transitions.

Abstract

The chiral components in the magnetic order in multiferroic MnWO4 have been studied by neutron diffraction using spherical polarization analysis as a function of temperature and of external electric field. We show that sufficiently close to the ferroelectric transition it is possible to switch the chiral component by applying moderate electric fields at constant temperature. Full hysteresis cycles can be observed which indicate strong pinning of the magnetic order. MnWO4, furthermore, exhibits a magnetoelectric memory effect across heating into the paramagnetic and paraelectric phase.