Abstract
The ferroelectric state in an orthorhombic perovskite () was proved by neutron scattering studies to show the cycloidal spin state with the -spiral plane and the spin-helicity dependent polarization vector along the axis, sharing the microscopic origin (inverse Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction) with the more widely observed state (e.g., for and Dy) with the -spiral plane. The magnetic-field induced polarization flop from to as well known for is thus assigned to the orthogonal flop of the spin spiral plane from to .
- Received 7 May 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.097204
©2008 American Physical Society