Electric field controlled magnetic hysteresis loops in a Metglas®/PMN-PT heterostructure

An electric field tunable magnetic hysteresis loop was studied in a multiferroic heterostructure consisting of a 25 mu m thick Metglas (R) ribbon affixed to a lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) crystal. This multiferroic heterostructure exhibits a considerably strong converse magnetoelectric effect, CME = -80%, where CME = [M(E) - M(0)]/M(0), and a converse magnetoelectric coupling constant, A = 23 Oe cm kV(-1), in the vicinity of the saturation electric polarization. This work systematically demonstrates the tunability of magnetic parameters including magnetization, coercivity, remanence and squareness, under the application of an electric field of 0-8 kV cm(-1). Additionally, the physical mechanism of the CME is discussed. These results provide useful resources for the design of a new generation of electrically controlled devices.