New orthorhombic multiferroics R1-xYx MnO3 (R = Eu, Gd)

A tendency to form multiferroic states with a spatially modulated antiferromagnetic structure and electric polarization in pure orthorhombic manganites RMnO 3 upon decreasing of the rare-earth ionic radii has been realized in single crystals of substituted compounds Eu 1x- Y x MnO 3 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) and Gd 1-y Y y MnO 3 (0 < y ≤ 0.2). While the parent pure and slightly substituted (x ≤ 0,1) compounds exhibited a spontaneous transition from the incommensurate (IC) to the canted antiferromagnetic (CAF) state at T CA < T N = 45-50 K, the transitions from IC to commensurate ferroelectric (C/FE) phase were observed at T lock < T N for x ≥ 0.3 and y ≥ 0.05 accompanied by dielectric anomalies. Various phase transitions were observed in magnetic fields up to 250 kOe along the a-, b-, c-axes by magnetization, magnetostriction and electric polarization measurements. The latter indicate the existence of a spontaneous electric polarization below T lock .