Session P17: Focus Session: Bulk Properties of Complex Oxides - 3d Oxides

8:00 AM–11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Room: D174

Sponsoring Units: DMP GMAG
Chair: Michelle Johannes, Naval Research Laboratory

Abstract ID: BAPS.2011.MAR.P17.2

Abstract: P17.00002 : Spin Waves and Magnetic Interaction in the Multiferroic Antiferromagnet MnWO4

8:36 AM–8:48 AM

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Authors:

  J.A. Fernandez-Baca
    (ORNL)

  Feng Ye
    (ORNL)

  R.S. Fishman
  A. Podlesnyak
    (ORNL)

  G. Ehlers
    (ORNL)

  H.A. Mook
    (ORNL)

  Y.Q. Wang
    (Univ of Houston)

  B. Lorenz
    (Univ of Houston)

  C.W. Chu
    (Univ of Houston)

The spin wave excitations of the multiferroic MnWO4 have been measured in the low-temperature collinear commensurate phase using high-resolution inelastic scattering. The spin excitations can be well described by a Heisenberg model with competing exchange interactions up to 11th nearest neighbors. We find the magnetic exchange couplings are highly frustrated within each zigzag spin chain along c-axis and between chains along the a-axis. However, the magnetic interactions are much weaker between chains along the b-axis. Our measurements suggest that the delicate balance of long range magnetic couplings is subject to small perturbations that can lead to a complex magnetic configuration exhibiting magnetoelectric behavior.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2011.MAR.P17.2