Distribution of antiferromagnetic rare-earth domains in multiferroic Dy_0.7Tb_0.3FeO₃.

ABSTRACT: In many multiferroics, rare-earth and transition-metal orders coexist. For analyzing their interaction and its consequences for the multiferroic state, the domain patterns and their spatial correlation give valuable insight. Unfortunately, this is often hampered by the lack of access to the domains of the rare-earth order. Here, we uncover such a domain pattern for the multiferroic Dy_0.7Tb_0.3FeO₃. Optical second harmonic generation reveals columnar Dy/Tb domains. The columns arrange perpendicular to the magnetically induced electric polarization. Hence, the antiferromagnetic rare-earth order forces the ferroelectric domains to form nominally charged domain walls. In turn, to reduce energy, the ferroelectric order causes a diminished rare-earth domain-wall d

SUBMITTER: Zemp Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12714573 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature