Switching of the Chiral Magnetic Domains in the Hybrid Multiferroic (ND4)2[FeCl5(D2O)]

TL;DR

This study uses neutron spherical polarimetry to demonstrate electric-field-controlled switching of magnetic chiral domains in a multiferroic compound, confirming strong magnetoelectric coupling and refining its magnetic structure.

Contribution

It provides the first direct proof of magnetic domain switchability via electric field in (ND4)2[FeCl5(D2O)], and refines the magnetic structure of this multiferroic.

Findings

Electric field stabilizes a single magnetic domain below 6.9 K.

Magnetic domains can be fully switched by reversing the electric field.

Refined magnetic structure consistent with ferroelectric polarization.

Abstract

Neutron spherical polarimetry, which is directly sensitive to the absolute magnetic configuration and domain population, has been used in this work to unambiguously prove the multiferroicity of (ND4)2[FeCl5(D2O)]. We demonstrate that the application of an electric field upon cooling results in the stabilization of a single-cycloidal magnetic domain below 6.9 K, while poling in the opposite electric field direction produces the full population of the domain with opposite magnetic chirality. We prove the complete switchability of the magnetic domains at low temperature by the applied electric field, which constitutes a direct proof of the strong magnetoelectric coupling. Additionally, we refine the magnetic structure of the ordered ground state, determining the underlying magnetic space group consistent with the direction of the ferroelectric polarization, and we provide evidence of a collinear amplitude-modulated state with magnetic moments along the a-axis in the temperature region between 6.9 and 7.2 K.