Induced magnetoelectric response in Pnma perovkites

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Pnma perovskites can exhibit significant magnetoelectric responses when ferroelectricity is induced via epitaxial strain, with detailed computational analysis revealing large, tunable effects near phase transitions.

Contribution

It introduces a symmetry-based framework and first-principles calculations showing magnetoelectric responses in strained Pnma perovskites, especially CaMnO3, highlighting their potential for tunable ME effects.

Findings

Large linear and non-linear ME responses near phase transition

Electronic and ionic contributions to ME response analyzed

ME responses can diverge close to ferroelectric phase transition

Abstract

We use symmetry analysis to show that the G, C and A-type antiferromagnetic Pnma perovskites can exhibit magnetoelectric (ME) responses when a ferroelectric instability is induced with epitaxial strain. Using first-principles calculations we compute the values of the allowed ME response in strained CaMnO3 as a model system. Our results show that large linear and non-linear ME responses are present and can diverge when close to the ferroelectric phase transition. By decomposing the electronic and ionic contributions, we explore the detailed mechanism of the ME response.