Magnetoelectric coupling in ferroelectromagnet Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 single crystals -: art. no. 132101

The magnetic and dielectric properties of ferroelectromagnet (FEM) Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O-3 (PFN) single crystals have been investigated. Anomalies in the dielectric constant as a function of temperature have been observed near its Neel temperature of similar to143 K, which are indicative of the so-called magnetoelectric coupling between the ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic orders in this compound. The results coincide with previous theoretical predications. It is demonstrated that a weak magnetic transition appeared at a temperature a little below the Neel temperature, confirming the earlier prediction from the Monte Carlo simulation in a qualitative sense. The magnetic hysteresis measurement proves that there does exist weak magnetic order in PFN crystal below its Neel temperature. The Mossbauer spectra also support the existence of the magnetic order.