Charge Order, Dynamics, and Magnetostructural Transition in Multiferroic LuFe2O4

Authors

X. S. Xu, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
M. Angst, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
T. V. Brinzari, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
R. P. Hermann, Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
J. L. Musfeldt, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
A. D. Christianson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
D. Mandrus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
B. C. Sales, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
S. McGill, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
J. -W. Kim, Ames Laboratory
Z. Islam, Argonne National Laboratory

Date of this Version

2008

Document Type

Article

Citation

PRL 101, 227602 (2008)

Comments

Used by permission.

Abstract

We investigated the series of temperature and field-driven transitions in LuFe₂O₄ by optical and Mossbauer spectroscopies, magnetization, and x-ray scattering in order to understand the interplay between charge, structure, and magnetism in this multiferroic material. We demonstrate that charge fluctuation has an onset well below the charge ordering transition, supporting the ‘‘order by fluctuation’’ mechanism for the development of charge order superstructure. Bragg splitting and large magneto-optical contrast suggest a low-temperature monoclinic distortion that can be driven by both temperature and magnetic field.