A New Multiferroic Material: MnWO4
O. Heyer, N. Hollmann, I. Klassen, S. Jodlauk, L. Bohaty, P. Becker, J. A. Mydosh, T. Lorenz, D. Khomskii
Abstract
We report the multiferroic behaviour of MnWO
4
, a magnetic oxide with monoclinic crystal structure and spiral long-range magnetic order. Based upon recent theoretical predictions MnWO
4
should exhibit ferroelectric polarization coexisting with the proper magnetic structure. We have confirmed the multiferroic state below 13 K by observing a finite electrical polarization in the magnetically ordered state via pyroelectric current measurements.