Multiferroics: different routes to magnetoelectric coupling

Abstract

The simultaneous presence of ferroelectricity and magnetism in multiferroics breaks both spatial inversion and time reversal symmetries at the macroscopic scale, which opens the door to many interesting phenomena and resembles the violation of these symmetries in particle physics. The symmetry breaking in multiferroics occurs spontaneously at phase transitions rather than at the level of fundamental interactions, and thus can be controlled. Moreover, each crystal is a universe in itself with a unique set of symmetries, coupling constants and ordered patterns, which presents plenty of opportunities to find and design materials with strong magnetoelectric coupling.