Fig. 4: Controlled writing of the multiferroic state into a non-multiferroic environment.
From: Writing of strain-controlled multiferroic ribbons into MnWO4
a SHG image at the photon energy \(2\hslash \omega =2.1\) eV obtained at 6.5 K in the non-multiferroic AF1 phase. Letters were drawn onto the crystal surface with a scriber. Scale bar, 200 μm. b Model of the AF1/AF2 phase coexistence. The bulk magnetic structure is of the collinear non-multiferroic AF1 type, whereas the spatially confined ribbons show the AF2 multiferroic spiral spin structure. Note that the width of the AF1–AF2 phase boundary can be zero as the onset of the magnetic spiral and, hence, of the magnetically induced electric polarization occurs immediately after crossing from the non-multiferroic into the multiferroic phase.
