Magnetoelectrical control of nonreciprocal microwave response in a multiferroic helimagnet

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the microwave nonreciprocity in a multiferroic helimagnet can be electrically reversed, enabling new control methods for microwave propagation in future wireless communication technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to electrically control and reverse microwave nonreciprocity in a multiferroic helimagnet, advancing microwave technology applications.

Findings

Microwave nonreciprocity can be reversed by an external electric field.

Electric control of microwave propagation is achieved in a multiferroic helimagnet.

The results open new possibilities for electrically tunable microwave devices.

Abstract

Control of physical property in terms of external fields is essential for contemporary technologies. The conductance can be controlled by a gate electric field in a field effect transistor, which is a main component of the integrated circuit. Optical phenomena induced by an electric field such as electroluminescence and electrochromism are useful for display and other technologies. Control of microwave propagation seems also imperative for future wireless communication technology. Microwave properties in solids are dominated mostly by magnetic excitations, which cannot be easily controlled by an electric field. One of the solutions for this problem is utilizing magnetically induced ferroelectrics (multiferroics). Here we show that microwave nonreciprocity, which is difference between oppositely propagating microwaves, can be reversed by the external electric field in a multiferroic helimagnet Ba$_2$Mg$_2$Fe$_{12}$O$_{22}$. This result offers a new avenue for the electrical control of microwave properties.