Ultralow-frequency magnetoelectric effect in a multilayer ferrite-piezoelectric structure

The magnetoelectric effect is experimentally studied in a multilayer nickel zinc ferrite-lead zirconate titanate structure at frequencies of 10(-3)-10 Hz that is placed in a harmonically modulated magnetic field of amplitude to 1 kOe. The nonlinearity of the ferrite magnetostriction and the conductivity of the films are shown to double the frequency and distort the shape of the magnetoelectric voltage. The magnetoelectric signal amplitude decreases linearly with decreasin- field modulation frequency. The feasibility of using the inagnetoclectric effect to detect ultralow-frequency magnetic fields is demonstrated.