Coupled Magnetization and Lattice Dynamics in Multiferroic Materials

The manipulation of magnetic properties by an electric field in multiferroic materials has driven significant research activity due to their transformative technological potential.

Although it still remains unresolved, it has been all along striving goal to have the perfect material that enables low-energy and ultrafast electric field control of magnetism.

Using the coupling of the magnetic moments and the electric polarization with the vibrational motion of the atoms, it is feasible to drive such ultrafast control. However, details on the microscopic driving mechanisms remain still unresolved.

In the proposed project MaLaMute, I aim to explore such spin-lattice mechanisms in multiferroic materials and to discover possible new microscopic interactions that will allow for sub-picosecond dynamics of the magnetic moments and the electric polarization.

MaLaMute will research (i) whether the complex complication of magnetic moment and lattice vibrations, with electric polarization, involving even other ferroic orders, has a game changing impact on the magnetoelectric effect in general and (ii) whether such complication increase the speed of magnetic control by the magnetoelectric effect.

The success of MaLaMute will establish not only a new inside into the dynamical and spin-lattice driven multiferroic effects.

MaLaMute will mark a milestone in the highly interdisciplinary field of multiferroics, but also in spintronics, green energy, and other global sustainable developments.