Charge-Order Driven Magnetoelectric Effect In Rare Earth Ferrites And Manganites

Charge‐order driven magnetic ferroelectricity is shown to occur in several rare earth ferrites and manganites. Rare earth ferrites, LnFe2O4 (Ln = rare earth), show ferroelectricity near the ferrimagnetic transition temperature around 250 K and magnetic fields affect the dielectric behavior. Charge‐ordered rare earth manganites of the general formula Ln1−xAxMnO3 (A = alkaline earth) exhibit dielectric constant anomalies around the charge‐ordering or the antiferromagnetic transition temperature. Magnetic fields have a marked effect on the dielectric properties of these compounds, indicating the presence of coupling between the magnetic and electrical order parameters.