Electrically switchable p-wave magnetism reported in BiFeO₃ at room temperature
Researchers report that BiFeO₃’s cycloidal spin structure produces p-wave spin polarization at room temperature and that the circular photogalvanic current can be reversed by electric-field pulses. The work combines theory, magnetic imaging and optical-current measurements.
Source review period: 2026-10-09
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The study examined the coplanar cycloidal magnetic order of ferroelectric BiFeO₃ with density-functional calculations. The calculated bands showed a nonrelativistic spin splitting of about 100 meV; piezoresponse microscopy and nitrogen-vacancy magnetic imaging characterized ferroelectric domains and the cycloidal spin texture in the sample.
In circular photogalvanic-effect measurements, the angular response of the current agreed with the expected spin-polarization direction. Electric-field pulses of about ±300 kV/cm reversed ferroelectric polarization and cycloid handedness, while the CPGE signal changed sign in the same sample region. This demonstrates electrical control of magnetic order in a room-temperature material, not a spintronics product or device performance.
Data
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The table reports only findings within this study’s experimental or model scope.
| Electric-field pulse polarities used to show CPGE reversal | 2 | The CPGE sign reversed in the same sample region after approximately +300 and −300 kV/cm pulses; this counts pulse polarities, not devices. |
Methodology
Quantity and scope are taken from the methods and results of the first arXiv version dated 9 October 2026; they should not be generalized beyond the study.
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