Magnetoelectric Effect in the Antiferromagnetic Ordered State of Ce$_{3}$TiBi$_{5}$ with Ce Zig-Zag Chains

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the magnetoelectric (ME) effect of the newly discovered antiferromagnetic (AFM) compound Ce$_{3}$TiBi$_{5}$ with a hexagonal structure (space group $P6_{3}$/$mcm$). In this system, Ce ions form zig-zag chains that extend along the $c$-axis. We focus on the lack of the local inversion symmetry at the Ce site, although the crystal structure has an inversion center. A theoretical study has predicted that magnetization can be induced by an electric current in the AFM ordering on the zig-zag chain. We conducted magnetization measurements on Ce$_{3}$TiBi$_{5}$ under an applied constant electric current and a static magnetic field around the AFM ordering temperature of $T_{\rm N}$ = 5.0 K. We successfully observed of the current-induced magnetization below $T_{\rm N}$. The magnitude of the current-induced magnetization has a linear electric current dependence and exhibits no magnetic field dependence. This behavior is consistent with the theoretical prediction of the ME effect in the ferrotoroidal ordered state.