Domain switching and exchange bias control by electric field in the multiferroic conical magnet Mn2GeO4

The electric-field effect on magnetism was examined in the multiferroic conical magnet Mn2GeO4, which shows a strong coupling between ferromagnetic and ferroelectric order parameters. The systematic evaluation of the electric polarization in the multiferroic phase below 5.5 K under various field cooling conditions reveals that small magnetic fields of 0.1 T significantly reduce the required electric fields needed to reach saturation. By applying electric fields during magnetic field dependent hysteresis measurements of magnetization M and polarization P an electrically controllable exchange bias was observed, a phenomenon exceedingly rare in single phase multiferroics. Furthermore, nonreversible electric switching of P and M domains was achieved under specific magnetic field conditions.