Magnetoelectric domain control in multiferroic TbMnO 3

Abstract

Visualizing ferroelectric domains Multiferroic materials support intertwined ferromagnetic and ferroelectric orders, with the magnetic field capable of controlling the electric order and vice versa. Matsubara et al. used second harmonic generation microscopy to visualize what happens to the ferroelectric domains in the multiferroic TbMnO 3 when an externally applied magnetic field changes the direction of electric polarization by 90°. Unexpectedly, the domain walls, initially parallel to the polarization vector, did not change their shape or position. The resulting transition from neutral to charged domain walls may help in the development of future ferroelectric devices. Science , this issue p. 1112