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The multiferroic RMn2O5 family, where R is rare-earth ion or Y, exhibits rich physics of multiferroicity which has not yet well understood, noting that multiferroicity is receiving attentions for promising application potentials. DyMn2O5 is a representative member of this family. The ferroelectric polarization in DyMn2O5 is claimed to have two anti-parallel components: one (PDM) from the symmetric exchange striction between the Dy3+-Mn4+ interactions and the other (PMM) from the symmetric exchange striction between the Mn3+-Mn4+ interactions. We investigate the evolutions of the two components upon a partial substitution of Mn3+ by nonmagnetic Al3+ in order to tailor the Mn-Mn interactions and then to modulate component PMM in DyMn2-x/2Alx/2O5. It is revealed that the ferroelectric polarization can be successfully reversed by the Al-substitution via substantially suppressing the Mn3+-Mn4+ interactions and thus the PMM. The Dy3+-Mn4+ interactions and the polarization component PDM can sustain against the substitution until a level as high as x=0.2. In addition, the independent Dy spin ordering is shifted remarkably down to an extremely low temperature due to the Al3+ substitution. The present work not only confirms the existence of the two anti-parallel polarization components but also unveils the possibility of tailoring them independently., Comment: 30 pages, 11 figures

A series of polycrystalline pyrochlore rare-earth titanate Ho_{2-x}Cr_xTi_2O_7 are synthesized in order to enhance the ferroelectricity of pyrochlore Ho2Ti2O7. For the sample close to the doping level x=0.4, a giant enhancement of polarization P up to 660\muC/m2 from 0.54\muC/m2 at x=0 is obtained, accompanied with an increment of ferroelectric transition point Tc up to ~140K from ~60K. A magnetic anomaly at T~140K together with the polarization response to magnetic field, is identified, implying the multiferroic effect in Ho2-xCrxTi2O7., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

A series of manganites Tb1-xHoxMnO3 (0<=x<=0.6) with orthorhombic structure are synthesized and detailed investigations on their multiferroicity are performed. Successive magnetic transitions upon temperature variation are evidenced for all samples, and both the Mn3+ spiral spin ordering and rare-earth spin ordering are suppressed with increasing x. Significant enhancement of both the polarization and magnetoelectric response within 0.2

Multiferroics, defined for those multifunctional materials in which two or more kinds of fundamental ferroicities coexist, have become one of the hottest topics of condensed matter physics and materials science in recent years. The coexistence of several order parameters in multiferroics brings out novel physical phenomena and offers possibilities for new device functions. The revival of research activities on multiferroics is evidenced by some novel discoveries and concepts, both experimentally and theoretically. In this review article, we outline some of the progressive milestones in this stimulating field, specially for those single phase multiferroics where magnetism and ferroelectricity coexist. Firstly, we will highlight the physical concepts of multiferroicity and the current challenges to integrate the magnetism and ferroelectricity into a single-phase system. Subsequently, we will summarize various strategies used to combine the two types of orders. Special attentions to three novel mechanisms for multiferroicity generation: (1) the ferroelectricity induced by the spin orders such as spiral and E-phase antiferromagnetic spin orders, which break the spatial inversion symmetry, (2) the ferroelectricity originating from the charge ordered states, and (3) the ferrotoroidic system, will be paid. Then, we will address the elementary excitations such as electromagnons, and application potentials of multiferroics. Finally, open questions and opportunities will be prospected., Comment: A long review article about multiferroics and magnetoelectric coupling. 112 pages, 75 figures

The colossal electroresistance in manganites is a concomitant of the electric field induced insulator-to-metal phase transition. A phenomenological phase transition model is proposed to study this electric field induced collapse of charge-ordered phase. The hysteresis of the phase transition is well explained using the effective medium approximation. The volume fraction of metallic region at the metal-to-insulator transition point is estimated as 30%. In addition, it is found that the critical electric field to melt the charge-ordered phase will decrease with the applied magnetic field., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

The phase equilibrium in manganites under magnetic field is studied using a two orbital model, based on the equivalent chemical potential principle for the competitive phases. We focus on the magnetic field induced melting process of CE phase in half-doped manganites. It is predicted that the homogenous CE phase begins to decompose into coexisting ferromagnetic phase and CE phase once the magnetic field exceeds the threshold field. In a more quantitative way, the volume fractions of the two competitive phases in the phase separation regime are evaluated., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

The charge order of CE phase in half-doped manganites is studied, based on an argument that the charge-ordering is caused by the Jahn-Teller distortions of MnO6 octahedra rather than Coulomb repulsion between electrons. The uantitative calculation on the ferromagnetic zigzag chain as the basic structure unit of CE phase within the framework of two-orbital double exchange model including Jahn-Teller effect is performed, and it is shown that the charge-disproportionation of Mn cations in the charge-ordered CE phase is less than 13%. In addition, we predict the negative charge-disproportionation once the Jahn-Teller effect is weak enough., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures(contained in the pdf file). submitted to Physical Review B

Current theoretical approaches to manganites mainly stem from magnetic framework, in which the electronic transport is thought to be spin-dependent and the double exchange mechanism plays a core role. However, quite a number of experimental observations can yet not be reasonably explained. For example, multiplicate insulator-metal transitions and resistivity reduction induced by perturbations other than magnetic field, such as electric current, are not well understood. A comprehensive analysis on earlier extensive studies is performed and two types of origins for resistivity change are highlighted. Besides the insulated-to-metallic transition induced by external field such as magnetic field, the insulated-to-insulated transition induced extrinsically is even a more important source for the colossal resistivity change. We propose an extended framework for the electronic transport of manganites, in which the contribution of charge degree of freedom is given a special priority., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures (contained in the pdf file). submitted to Physical Review B