Multiferroic properties of an åkermanite Sr ₂CoSi ₂O ₇ single crystal in high magnetic fields

The magnetic and dielectric properties of åkermanite Sr ₂CoSi ₂O ₇ single crystals in high magnetic fields were investigated. We have observed finite induced electric polarization along the c axis in high fields, wherein all Co spins were forcibly aligned to the magnetic field direction. Existence of the induced polarization in the spin-polarized state accompanied with the finite slope in the magnetization curve suggests the possible role of the orbital angular momenta in the excited states as its microscopic origin. The emergence of the field-induced polarization without particular magnetic order can be regarded as the magnetoelectric effects of the second order from the symmetry point of view. A low magnetic field-driven electric polarization flip induced by a rotating field, even at room temperature, has been successfully demonstrated.