Lattice and spin excitations have been studied by Raman scattering in hexagonal YbMnO3 single crystals. The temperature dependences of the phonon modes show that the E2 mode at 256 cm-1 related to the displacement of Mn and O ions in a-b plane is cou
pled to the spin order. The A1 phonon mode at 678 cm-1 presents a soft mode behavior at the Neel temperature. Connected to the motion of the apical oxygen ions along the c direction, this mode controls directly the Mn-Mn interactions between adjacent Mn planes and the superexchange path. Crystal field and magnon mode excitations have been identified. The temperature investigation of the spin excitations shows that the spin structure is strongly influence by the Yb-Mn interaction. Under a magnetic field along the c axis, we have investigated the magnetic reordering and its impact on the spin excitations.
We have studied the impact of the magnetic field on the electromagnon excitations in TbMnO3 crystal. Applying magnetic field along the c axis, we show that the electromagnons transform into pure antiferromagnetic modes, losing their polar character.
Entering in the paraelectric phase, we are able to track the spectral weight transfer from the electromagnons to the magnon excitations and we discuss the magnetic excitations underlying the electromagnons. We also point out the phonons involved in the phase transition process. This reveals that the Mn-O distance plays a key role in understanding the ferroelectricity and the polar character of the electromagnons. Magnetic field measurements along the b axis allow us to detect a new electromagnon resonance in agreement with a Heisenberg model.
Raman scattering measurements on BiFeO3 single crystals show an important coupling between the magnetic order and lattice vibrations. The temperature evolution of phonons shows that the lowest energy E and A1 phonon modes are coupled to the spin orde
r up to the Neel temperature. Furthermore, low temperature anomalies associated with the spin re-orientation are observed simultaneously in both the E phonon and the magnon. These results suggest that magnetostriction plays an important role in BiFeO3.
