Antiferromagnetically Spin Polarized Oxygen Observed in Magnetoelectric TbMn2O5

Beale, TAW; Wilkins, SB; Johnson, RD; Bland, SR; Joly, Y; Forrest, TR; McMorrow, DF; Yakhou, F; Prabhakaran, D; Boothroyd, AT; Hatton, PD

Abstract

We report the direct measurement of antiferromagnetic spin polarization at the oxygen sites in the multiferroic TbMn2O5, through resonant soft x-ray magnetic scattering. This supports recent theoretical models suggesting that the oxygen spin polarization is key to the magnetoelectric coupling mechanism. The spin polarization is observed through a resonantly enhanced diffraction signal at the oxygen K edge at the commensurate antiferromagnetic wave vector. Using the fdmnes code we have accurately reproduced the experimental data. We have established that the resonance arises through the spin polarization on the oxygen sites hybridized with the square based pyramid Mn3+ ions. Furthermore we have discovered that the position of the Mn3+ ion directly influences the oxygen spin polarization.

Citation

Beale, T., Wilkins, S., Johnson, R., Bland, S., Joly, Y., Forrest, T., …Hatton, P. (2010). Antiferromagnetically Spin Polarized Oxygen Observed in Magnetoelectric TbMn2O5. Physical Review Letters, 105(8), Article 087203. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.105.087203

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Sep 10, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2012
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 105
• Issue: 8
• Article Number: 087203
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.105.087203
• Keywords: Neutron-diffraction, Scattering.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1516816