### Session K20: Focus Session: Multiferroics II - Hexagonal Systems

2:30 PM–5:06 PM, Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Baltimore Convention Center Room: 317

Chair: Alois Loidl, Augsburg University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2006.MAR.K20.11

### Abstract: K20.00011 : Landau Theory of the Magnetic Phases of Hexagonal Rare Earth Manganites

4:54 PM–5:06 PM

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#### Authors:

Iram Munawar
Stephanie Curnoe
(Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography/Memorial University of Newfoundland)

A group theoretical analysis is presented on the magnetic structure of rare earth atoms in the multiferroic hexagonal manganites RMnO$_{3}$ (R=Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Sc, Y) which exhibit the coexistence of ferroelectricity (T$_{c }\sim$900 K) and antiferromagnetism (T$_{N }\sim$100 K). Using Landau theory, a phenomenological model of the free energy based on four one-dimensional magnetic order parameters has been developed. Coupling of the various order parameters leads to complex magnetic field -- temperature phase diagrams in qualitative agreement with experimental data. \newline \newline References: \newline [1] S. H. Curnoe and I. Munawar, Magnetic Phases of Rare Earth Hexagonal Manganites, Proceedings of The International Conference on Strongly Correlated Electron Systems SCES '05, July 26$^{th}$ - 30$^{th}$, 2005, Vienna, Austria, (accepted on July 29, 2005 to be published in Physica B)\newline [2] Manfred Fiebig. (2005) Revival of the magnetoelectric effect, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 38, R123-R152

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2006.MAR.K20.11