2012/08/03 by N. J. Perks, N. Perks, Perks, N. J. +9
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Magnetic Properties and Applications #Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials #Multiferroics and related materials #Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el) #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1208.0775
Submitted to Nature Communications
arxiv created 2012/08/03 · openalex publication_date 2012/08/03 · arxiv updated 2012/08/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Orbitally ordered states evolving coincidentally with structural distortions and magnetic ordering provide a novel route to controlling electronic and magnetic properties of materials through external fields. We report an unprecedented magneto-orbital helix in CaMn7O12, found to give rise to the largest magnetically induced ferroelectric polarisation measured to date. Characterisation of the structural modulation using x-ray diffraction, and analysis of magnetic exchange shows that orbital order is crucial in stabilising a chiral magnetic structure, thus allowing for electric polarisation. Additionally, the presence of a global structural rotation enables the coupling between this polarisation and magnetic helicity required for multiferrocitiy. These novel principles open up the possibility of discovering new high-temperature multiferroics.