Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

The magnetic structure of TbMn₂O₅ and DyMn₂O₅ multiferroics has been studied by high-pressure neutron diffraction in a large pressure range up to 6.6 GPa. In both cases, we observe a pressure-induced commensurate magnetic phase with propagation vector ( 1/2 0 1/2 ), growing with pressure at the expense of the ambient pressure phases. Being previously observed in YMn₂O₅ and PrMn₂O₅, this phase is most likely a generic feature of the RMn₂O₅ multiferroic family. A simple model is proposed to explain qualitatively the emergence of this pressure-induced phase. Differences between TbMn₂O₅ and DyMn₂O₅ behaviors at ambient and low pressures provide clues on the interaction scheme.