Abstract
We analyze the coupling between the ferroelectric and magnetic order parameters in the magnetoelectric multiferroic using density functional theory within the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and the method. We show that weak ferromagnetism of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type occurs in this material, and we analyze the coupling between the resulting magnetization and the structural distortions. We explore the possibility of electric-field-induced magnetization reversal and show that, although it is unlikely to be realized in , it is not in general impossible. Finally, we outline the conditions that must be fulfilled to achieve switching of the magnetization using an electric field.
- Received 15 December 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.060401
©2005 American Physical Society