Strain-Engineered Multiferroicity in Pnma NaMnF_{3} Fluoroperovskite.

Abstract

In this study we show from first principles calculations the possibility to induce multiferroic and magnetoelectric functional properties in the Pnma NaMnF_{3} fluoroperovskite by means of epitaxial strain engineering. Surprisingly, we found a very strong nonlinear polarization-strain coupling that drives an atypical amplification of the ferroelectric polarization for either compression or expansion of the cell. This property is associated with a noncollinear antiferromagnetic ordering, which induces a weak ferromagnetism phase and makes the strained NaMnF_{3} fluoroperovskite multiferroic. The magnetoelectric response was calculated and it was found to be composed of linear and nonlinear components with amplitudes similar to the ones of Cr_{2}O_{3}. These findings show that it is possible to move the fluoride family toward functional applications with unique responses.