Ferroelectric Domains in the Multiferroic Phase of ErMnO₃ Imaged by Low-Temperature Photoemission Electron Microscopy

Abstract:

Low-temperature photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) is used to image and compare the distribution of ferroelectric domains in multiferroic ErMnO₃ above and below the magnetic ordering temperature (T_N = 80 K). Our temperature-dependent PEEM data demonstrate that the ferroelectric domain structure is robust against the onset of magnetic long- range order and the emergence of antiferromagnetic domains. The observed persistence indicates that antiferromagnetic domain walls adopt the position of ferroelectric walls – and not vice versa – developing a multiferroic domain-wall pattern congruent with the ferroelectric domain-wall distribution observed above T_N.