The magnetoelectric MEE-effect in the SmFe3(BO3)4 multiferroic in dc and ac electric fields

Abstract

The inverse magnetoelectric MEE-effect in the SmFe3(BO3)4 single-crystal sample in an applied electric field has been studied. The electric field E consists of two components: a constant one, e0, and a variable one, e × cos(ωt). The investigated compound evokes great interest due to the existence of both linear and quadratic contributions to the magnetoelectric effect. According to theoretical analysis, the effective susceptibility of the first harmonic of magnetic moment oscillations depends on the dc electric field component e0. Indeed, according to the measurement data, the dc field e0 significantly affects the MEE-effect first-harmonic amplitude: depending on the e0 sign, these oscillations can be either amplified or suppressed. This offers an opportunity for controlling the magnetic moment oscillation amplitude at the applied electric field frequency, including the signal modulation, which is promising for application. In the applied dc field e0, a slight change in the susceptibility of the MEE-effect term quadratic to the electric field was detected. The mathematical apparatus used correctly describes the qualitative dependence of the MEE-effect amplitude on the dc field e0, while the quantity appears to be approximately twofold overestimated.