Magnetoelastic properties of multiferroic hexagonal ErMnO3

The strength and dynamics of magnetoelastic coupling through the paramagnetic (PM) – antiferromagnetic (AFM) ferrimagnetic (FIM) transitions in multiferroic hexagonal ErMnO3 have been investigated by Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy. Elastic stiffening up to 2% below PM AFM transition at 80 K arises from biquadratic between strain magnetic order parameter with relaxation times longer than ? 10-6 s for response spins changes strain. In contrast YMnO3, is accompanied a peak acoustic loss immediately Néel point which interpreted terms accompanying ordering Er3+ 4b sites. Changes scheme FIM near 3 are elastic softening 0.03 %. During poling low temperature structure round hysteresis loops, small stiffness arise due contribution piezomagnetic and/or piezoelectric moduli detected. Contributions resonance frequencies also permit configuration ferroelectric domains be detected both cycling this application field. A vicinity 250 attributed strain-mediated pinning/freezing some aspect domain microstructure an activation energy 0.25–0.3 eV. return original properties on heating temperatures above backswitching they had start. These observations confirm existence subtle variations behaviour relating parameters structures.