Electric polarization in conventional paraelectric/ferroelectric oxides usually involves the displacement of nonmagnetic transition-metal ions with an empty shell. Here we unravel an unusual mechanism for electric polarization based on the displacement of magnetic ions. Our simulations suggest that the competition between the long-range Coulomb interaction and short-range Pauli repulsion in a bipyramidal unit with proper lattice parameters would favor an off-center displacement of , which directly induces a local electric dipole. As a prototype example, we show that the electric dipole of a bipyramid in hexaferrites leads to a different family of magnetic quantum paraelectrics. The manipulation of this unique magnetic-ion-induced displacive electric polarization in a bipyramid could open up a promising route to generating unconventional dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics.
17 October 2009 in The European Physical Journal B
Travelling waves in circuit chains are studied to measure continuous dispersion. A lock‐in frequency meter (LIF) is suitable for precisely determining k for each set of waves in finite alternate LC chains, where LIF has been proven to be more accurate than the fast Fourier transform. In addition to the – k measurement, the wave impedance spectrum of the travelling wave can be measured simultaneously, for investigating the dispersion and splitting of pulse propagation. The measured dispersion is validated to be consistent with the derived theoretical equations. The result provides an independent way to precisely obtain dynamical system properties for chains composed of non‐ideal components, such as resistors for researching non‐Hermitian behaviour under dissipation. Systematical mapping of relative deviation dependence of wave dispersion measurement with LIF on different chain length and component variation is studied, indicating boundaries of 1%, 0.1%, and 0.01% precision for guidance of experiments.