Temperature- and Magnetic-Field-Tuning of Magnetic Phases in Multiferroic NdFe3(BO3)4

TL;DR

This study investigates how temperature and magnetic field influence magnetic phases in NdFe3(BO3)4, revealing phase coexistence, transitions, and associated magnetostriction and polarization effects at low temperatures.

Contribution

It demonstrates the tuning of magnetic phases in NdFe3(BO3)4 via temperature and magnetic field, highlighting surface and bulk phase coexistence and related magnetoelectric phenomena.

Findings

Coexistence of incommensurate and commensurate magnetic phases at low temperature.

Magnetic field and temperature induce phase transitions around 14 K and 0.9 T.

Onset of magnetostriction and electric polarization at magnetic-field-induced transition.

Abstract

We report the low-temperature coexistence in NdFe3(BO3)4 of an incommensurate magnetic phase with a strained commensurate magnetic phase that is primarily at the surface of the crystal. Increasing the temperature or magnetic field decreases the incommensurability and stabilizes the commensurate magnetic phase above Tic ~14 K or Hic = 0.9 T. A comparison to published studies indicates the onset of longitudinal magnetostriction and electric polarization at the magnetic-field-induced transition, which may arise due to a basal plane spin-flop and canting of the moments along the field direction.