Inverse magnetoelectric effects in a ferromagnetic-piezoelectric layered structure

Measurements of inverse magnetoelectric (ME) effects in lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-Ni-PZT trilayers are reported. Traditional ME measurements involve the electrical response of a composite subjected to an alternating current (ac) magnetic field. In the case of an "inverse ME effect," one measures the variation in the magnetic induction due to an external ac electric field applied to PZT. A pickup coil wound around the sample is used to measure the ME voltage due to the change in the magnetic induction in Ni. The measured static magnetic-field dependence of ME voltage has been attributed to the variation in the piezomagnetic coefficient for Ni. The frequency dependence of the ME voltage shows a resonance character due to radial acoustic modes in PZT. Theoretical estimates of ME susceptibility are in excellent agreement with values determined from data on induced voltage.