Magnetoelectric coupling induced by interfacial orbital reconstruction

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that reversible orbital reconstruction driven by ferroelectric polarization can modulate magnetic properties at interfaces, revealing a new mechanism for magnetoelectric coupling with potential device applications.

Contribution

It introduces the orbital degree of freedom as a key mechanism in magnetoelectric coupling, showing reversible control of magnetic states via electric fields in heterostructures.

Findings

Orbital occupancy can be reversibly modulated by electric fields.

Magnetic states are enhanced or weakened by polarization direction.

The study links orbital reconstruction to magnetoelectric effects.

Abstract

The magnetoelectric coupling effect with profound physics and enormous potential applications has provoked a great number of research activities in materials science. Here, we report that the reversible orbital reconstruction driven by ferroelectric polarization modulates the magnetic performance of ferroelectric ferromagnetic heterostructure. Mn in plane orbital occupancy and related interfacial exotic magnetic state are enhanced and weakened by the negative and positive electric field, respectively. Our findings thus not only present a broad opportunity to fill the missing member, orbital in the mechanism of magnetoelectric coupling, but also make the orbital degree of freedom straight forward to the application in microelectronic device.