### Session P10: Focus Session: Multiferroics II

8:00 AM–10:48 AM, Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Room: 304

Chair: Serge Nakhmanson, Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract ID: BAPS.2009.MAR.P10.9

### Abstract: P10.00009 : Ideal Nanocheckerboard $BiFeO_3-BiMnO_3$ from First Principles

10:00 AM–10:12 AM

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#### Authors:

Lucia Palova
(Rutgers University)

Karin Rabe
(Rutgers University)

Premala Chandra
(Rutgers University)

Motivated by recent nanocheckerboard patternings of oxide materials, we use first principles calculations to characterize a prototypical atomic-scale checkerboard of $BiFeO_3-BiMnO_3$ and to compare its properties to those of its bulk constituents. We find this checkerboard has a multiferroic ground state with nonzero ferroelectric polarization and a nonzero magnetic moment, thereby combining desirable features of bulk $BiFeO_3$ and $BiMnO_3$. Unlike either of its parent compounds, structural distortion of the checkerboard stabilizes different magnetic states; this magnetostructural effect can be used to switch between states with zero and nonzero magnetization. The role of oxygen-octahedron rotations and strain in the magnetic ordering of the nanocheckerboard will be examined in detail.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2009.MAR.P10.9