Multiferroicity in the spin-1/2 quantum matter of LiCu2O2

초록

Multiferroicity in LiCu2O2 single crystals is studied using resonant soft x-ray magnetic scattering, hard x-ray diffraction, heat capacity, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical polarization. Two magnetic transitions are found at 24.6 K (T-1) and 23.2 K (T-2). Our data are consistent with a sinusoidal spin structure at T-2 < T < T-1 and with a helicoidal spin structure at T < T-2, giving rise to ferroelectricity. Surprisingly, above T-2, the correlation lengths of the spin structures increase as the temperature increases with dramatic changes of similar to 42% occurring along the c axis. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

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