Magnetoelectric coupling and electric control of magnetization in ferromagnet/ferroelectric/normal-metal superlattices

Abstract

Ferromagnet/ferroelectric/normal-metal superlattices are proposed to realize the large room-temperature magnetoelectric effect. Spin-dependent electron screening is the fundamental mechanism at the microscopic level. We also predict an electric control of magnetization in this structure. The naturally broken inversion symmetry in our tricomponent structure introduces a magnetoelectric coupling energy of $P{M}^{2}$. Such a magnetoelectric coupling effect is general in ferromagnet/ferroelectric heterostructures, independent of particular chemical or physical bonding, and will play an important role in the field of multiferroics.