Multiferroic -type hexaferrites with a room-temperature conical state and magnetically controllable spin helicity

Tokunaga, Yusuke*; Kaneko, Yoshio*; Okuyama, Daisuke*; Ishiwata, Shintaro*; Arima, Takahisa*; Wakimoto, Shuichi  ; Kakurai, Kazuhisa; Taguchi, Yasujiro*; Tokura, Yoshinori*

Magnetic and magnetoelectric (ME) properties have been studied for single crystals of Sc-doped -type barium hexaferrites. Magnetization () and neutron diffraction measurements revealed that by tuning Sc concentration a longitudinal conical state is stabilized up to above room temperatures. ME measurements have shown that a transverse magnetic field () can induce electric polarization () at lower temperatures and that the spin helicity is nonvolatile and endurable up to near the conical magnetic transition temperature.