2010/08/19 by D. Meier, Dennis Meier, N. Leo +14
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Multiferroics and related materials #Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el) #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1008.3290
arxiv created 2010/08/19 · openalex publication_date 2010/08/19 · arxiv updated 2010/08/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Translation domains differing in the phase but not in the orientation of the corresponding order parameter are resolved in two types of multiferroics. Hexagonal (h-) YMnO3 is a split-order-parameter multiferroic in which commensurate ferroelectric translation domains are resolved by piezoresponse force microscopy whereas MnWO4 is a joint-order-parameter multiferroic in which incommensurate magnetic translation domains are observed by optical second harmonic generation. The pronounced manifestation of the generally rather "hidden" translation domains in these multiferroics and the associated drastic reduction of symmetry emphasize that the presence of translation domains must not be neglected when discussing the physical properties and functionalities of multiferroics.