Magnetism-driven ferroelectricity in spin-1/2 $XY$ chains

TL;DR

This paper explores a theoretical model of spin-1/2 XY chains demonstrating magnetism-driven ferroelectricity via the KNB mechanism, revealing novel magnetoelectric effects and caloric responses due to three-spin interactions.

Contribution

It introduces an exactly solvable spin chain model showing magnetoelectric coupling driven by three-spin interactions, expanding understanding of magnetoelectric phenomena in quantum spin systems.

Findings

Magnetization and polarization are coupled through electric and magnetic fields without external fields.

Three-spin interactions induce magnetoelectric effects in the model.

Entropy changes under field variations suggest a magnetoelectrocaloric effect.

Abstract

We illustrate the magnetoelectric effect conditioned by the Katsura-Nagaosa-Balatsky (KNB) mechanism within the frames of exactly solvable spin-1/2 $XY$ chains. Due to three-spin interactions which are present in our consideration, the magnetization (polarization) is influenced by the electric (magnetic) field even in the absence of the magnetic (electric) field. We also discuss a magnetoelectrocaloric effect examining the entropy changes under the isothermal varying of the magnetic or/and electric field.