Switching of magnons by electric and magnetic fields in multiferroic borates

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the electric and magnetic control of magnon excitations in multiferroic iron-borates, enabling high-frequency modulation of terahertz radiation, which is promising for advanced electronic applications.

Contribution

It reveals that magnetic vibrations in multiferroic borates can be simultaneously manipulated by electric and magnetic fields, showing nearly 100% terahertz radiation modulation.

Findings

Nearly 100% modulation of terahertz radiation achieved.

Magnetic vibrations are sensitive to external electric and magnetic fields.

External fields modify spin orientation, affecting excitation conditions.

Abstract

Electric manipulation of magnetic properties is a key problem of materials research. To fulfil the requirements of modern electronics, these processes must be shifted to high frequencies. In multiferroic materials this may be achieved by electric and magnetic control of their fundamental excitations. Here we identify magnetic vibrations in multiferroic iron-borates which are simultaneously sensitive to external electric and magnetic fields. Nearly 100% modulation of the terahertz radiation in an external field is demonstrated for SmFe3(BO3)4. High sensitivity can be explained by a modification of the spin orientation which controls the excitation conditions in multiferroic borates. These experiments demonstrate the possibility to alter terahertz magnetic properties of materials independently by external electric and magnetic fields.