Destruction of spin cycloid in (111)(c)-oriented BiFeO3 thin films by epitiaxial constraint: Enhanced polarization and release of latent magnetization

In BiFeO3 films, it has been found that epitaxial constraint results in the destruction of a space modulated spin structure. For (111)c films, relative to corresponding bulk crystals, it is shown (i) that the induced magnetization is enhanced at low applied fields; (ii) that the polarization is dramatically enhanced; whereas, (iii) the lattice structure for (111)(c) films and crystals is nearly identical. Our results evidence that eptiaxial constraint induces a transition between cycloidal and homogeneous anti ferromagnetic spin states, releasing a latent antiferromagnetic component locked within the cycloid. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.