Magnetoelectric effect in an XY-like spin glass system Ni{x}Mn{1-x}TiO{3}.

ABSTRACT

Magnetoelectric (ME) properties were investigated for an XY-like spin glass (SG) system, Ni{x}Mn{1-x}TiO{3} with an ilmenite structure. The ME effect is usually observed in systems with peculiar couplings between a crystal lattice and a magnetic order. Nonetheless, we found an antisymmetric ME effect with nonzero ME tensor elements below T{ME}=8-10 K in samples showing SG transitions. At T{ME}, no specific heat anomaly was observed, suggesting the absence of long-range magnetic order. We discuss the origin of the ME effect in the XY-like SG system in terms of an alignment of toroidal moments.