Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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TT: Fachverband Tiefe Temperaturen
TT 25: Multiferroics IV (jointly with DF, DS, KR, MA)
TT 25.6: Talk
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 12:00–12:15, HSZ 04
Time resolved reversal of spin-spiral domains by an electric field in multiferroic MnWO4 — •Philip Thielen1, Tim Hoffmann1, Petra Becker2, Ladislav Bohatý2, and Manfred Fiebig1 — 1University Bonn, HISKP, Germany — 2Institut für Kristallographie, Universität zu Köln
The interaction of magnetic and ferroelectric order is intrinsically strong in spin-spiral multiferroics. Here the complex magnetic long range order breaks inversion symmetry and induces a spontaneous electric polarization. The interaction allows for switching of the magnetization by means of an applied electric field and is thus of great interest for possible applications. So far there exists little information on the time scale and dynamics of the actual switching process. Here we report time resolved measurements of the reversal of spin-spiral domains in multiferroic MnWO4 by optical second harmonic generation. Magnetic single-domain states are created by the application of an electric field. By reversing its polarity, a reversal of the magnetic domain state occurs. The time scale of the dynamic switching process is found to be in the ms region. Images of the domain-reversal process are obtained. The dynamic domain pattern differs substantially from that of quasi-statically switched multi domain structures.