Strong spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic hexagonal manganite YMnO3 probed by ultrafast optical spectroscopy

Abstract

We report the observation of spin-lattice coupling in multiferroic YMnO3 by femtosecond near-infrared pump and probe spectroscopy. A coherent 31 GHz acoustic phonon was detected above the magnetic ordering temperature, and a higher frequency coherent mode was observed in the antiferromagnetic phase. This temperature-dependent measurement demonstrates that the acoustic phonon excitation is coupled to spin ordering. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3467459]