材料期刊网

The multiferroic domains and their responses to external electric and magnetic fields in orthorhombic multiferroics of cycloidal spin order, taking nonmagnetic rare-earth manganites as examples, are investigated using a phase-field model based on the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation and Monte Carlo simulation. The ferroelectric 180 degrees-domain pattern with head-to-head/tail-to-tail domain wall along the b-axis, assigned to the in-plane ab-CS thin film, is revealed. The domain switching in response to both electric and magnetic fields is simulated, consistent with experiments. The magnetic origin for the 180 degrees head-to-head/tail-to-tail domain walls is discussed. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4739426]