Magnetoelectric effect of rare earth manganese oxide RMn2O5

Abstract
The magnetoelectric effect of rare earth manganese oxides RMn2O5 (R = Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Yb and Y) has been studied by a quasistatic magnetoelectric method for the purpose of determining whether linear magnetoelectric effect is present or not. The results indicate that the main part of the effect at 4.2 K is represented by quadratic (in magnetic field) term except the case of R = Er and Yb. Linear magnetoelectric susceptibility is less than 5 × 10−6 cgs unit, if it exists, except the cases of EuMn2O5, YbMn2O5 and TbMn2O5. Anomalous behaviors were observed in ErMn2O5 and YbMn2O5, indicating a phase transition driven by an applied magnetic field.