Electrically driven magnetic relaxation in multiferroic LuFe2O4

J Phys Condens Matter. 2010 Dec 15;22(49):496001. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/49/496001.

Abstract

We report the electrical control of magnetization in multiferroic LuFe2O4 by applying short current pulses. The magnitude of the induced magnetization change depends on the pulse width and current density. The voltage variation during the applied current pulses evidences an electric-field-induced breakdown of charge order and excludes the role of Joule heating. This current driven magnetization change can be interpreted with a three-temperature model in which the delocalized electrons accelerate spin relaxation through a strong spin-charge coupling inherent to multiferroicity. The electrically assisted magnetic relaxation provides a new approach for electrical control of magnetization.