The fourth fundamental circuit element: principle and applications

The relationships between four basic circuit variables - voltage (v), current (i), charge (q), and magnetic flux (ϕ) - have defined three fundamental circuit elements: resistor, capacitor, and inductor. From a symmetry view, there is a fourth fundamental circuit element defined from the relationship between charge and magnetic flux. Historically, a device called memristor was considered to be the fourth element, but it has caused intense controversy because the memristor is conceived based on a nonlinear i-v relationship rather than a direct q-ϕ relationship. Alternatively, a direct correlation between trapped charge (q) and magnetic flux (ϕ) can be built up by employing the magnetoelectric (ME) effects, i.e., magnetic field control of electric polarization and electric field control of magnetization. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the principle and applications of the fourth circuit element based on the ME effects. Both the fourth linear element and nonlinear memelement, termed transtor and memtranstor, respectively, have been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. A complete relational diagram of fundamental circuit elements has been constructed. The transtor with a linear ME effect can be used in a variety of applications such as the energy harvester, tunable inductor, magnetic sensor, gyrator, and transformer etc. The memtranstor showing a pinched hysteresis loop has a great potential in developing low-power nonvolatile electronic devices. The principle is to utilize the states of the ME coefficient αE=dE/dH, instead of resistance, magnetization or electric polarization to store information. Both nonvolatile memories and logic functions can be implemented using the memtranstors, which provides a candidate route toward the logic-in-memory computing system. In addition, artificial synaptic devices that are able to mimic synaptic behaviors have also been realized using the memtranstor. The fourth circuit element and memelement based on the ME effects provide extra degrees of freedom to broaden circuit functionalities and develop advanced electronic devices.

Remarkably enhanced dielectric stability and energy storage properties in BNT—BST relaxor ceramics by A-site defect engineering for pulsed power applications

Lead-free bulk ceramics for advanced pulsed power capacitors show relatively low recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) especially at low electric field condition. To address this challenge, we propose an A-site defect engineering to optimize the electric polarization behavior by disrupting the orderly arrangement of A-site ions, in which $${\rm{B}}{{\rm{a}}_{0.105}}{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_{0.325}}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{r}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{\rm{B}}{{\rm{i}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{Ti}}{{\rm{O}}_3}$$ Ba 0.105 Na 0.325 Sr 0.245 − 1.5 x □ 0.5 x Bi 0.325 + x TiO 3 ($${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$ BNS 0.245 − 1.5 x □ 0.5 x B 0.325 + x T , x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) lead-free ceramics are selected as the representative. The $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$ BNS 0.245 − 1.5 x □ 0.5 x B 0.325 + x T ceramics are prepared by using pressureless solid-state sintering and achieve large Wrec (1.8 J/cm3) at a low electric field (@110 kV/cm) when x = 0.06. The value of 1.8 J/cm3 is super high as compared to all other Wrec in lead-free bulk ceramics under a relatively low electric field (< 160 kV/cm). Furthermore, a high dielectric constant of 2930 within 15% fluctuation in a wide temperature range of 40–350 °C is also obtained in $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$ BNS 0.245 − 1.5 x □ 0.5 x B 0.325 + x T (x = 0.06) ceramics. The excellent performances can be attributed to the A-site defect engineering, which can reduce remnant polarization (Pr) and improve the thermal evolution of polar nanoregions (PNRs). This work confirms that the $${\rm{BN}}{{\rm{S}}_{0.245 - 1.5x}}{_{0.5x}}{{\rm{B}}_{0.325 + x}}{\rm{T}}$$ BNS 0.245 − 1.5 x □ 0.5 x B 0.325 + x T (x = 0.06) ceramics are desirable for advanced pulsed power capacitors, and will push the development of a series of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT)-based ceramics with high Wrec and high-temperature stability.

Confirming the trilinear form of the optical magnetoelectric effect in the polar honeycomb antiferromagnet Co2Mo3O8

Magnetoelectric phenomena are intimately linked to relativistic effects and also require the material to break spatial inversion symmetry and time-reversal invariance. Magnetoelectric coupling can substantially affect light–matter interaction and lead to non-reciprocal light propagation. Here, we confirm on a fully experimental basis, without invoking either symmetry-based or material-specific assumptions, that the optical magnetoelectric effect in materials with non-parallel magnetization (M) and electric polarization (P) generates a trilinear term in the refractive index, δn ∝ k ⋅ (P × M), where k is the propagation vector of light. Its sharp magnetoelectric resonances in the terahertz regime, which are simultaneously electric and magnetic dipole active excitations, make Co2Mo3O8 an ideal compound to demonstrate this fundamental relation via independent variation of M, P, and k. Remarkably, the material shows almost perfect one-way transparency in moderate magnetic fields for one of these magnetoelectric resonances.

Entangled exchange-spring magnetic structure driven by surface magnetic symmetry-breaking in Cr2O3 nanoparticles

Bulk Cr2O3 is an antiferromagnetic oxide that exhibits the magneto-electric effect at room temperature, with neither spontaneous magnetization nor net electric polarization. These physical properties stem from a subtle competition...

Using Atomic Charges to Model Molecular Polarization.

We review different models for introducing electrical polarization in force fields, with special focus on methods where polarization is modelled at the atomic charge level. While electric polarization has been...

Multiferroic Coupling of Ferromagnetic and Ferroelectric Particles through Elastic Polymers

Multiferroics are materials that electrically polarize when subjected to a magnetic field and magnetize under the action of an electric field. In composites, the multiferroic effect is achieved by mixing of ferromagnetic (FM) and ferroelectric (FE) particles. The FM particles are prone to magnetostriction (field-induced deformation), whereas the FE particles display piezoelectricity (electrically polarize under mechanical stress). In solid composites, where the FM and FE grains are in tight contact, the combination of these effects directly leads to multiferroic behavior. In the present work, we considered the FM/FE composites with soft polymer bases, where the particles of alternative kinds are remote from one another. In these systems, the multiferroic coupling is different and more complicated in comparison with the solid ones as it is essentially mediated by an electromagnetically neutral matrix. When either of the fields, magnetic or electric, acts on the ‘akin’ particles (FM or FE) it causes their displacement and by that perturbs the particle elastic environments. The induced mechanical stresses spread over the matrix and inevitably affect the particles of an alternative kind. Therefore, magnetization causes an electric response (due to the piezoeffect in FE) whereas electric polarization might entail a magnetic response (due to the magnetostriction effect in FM). A numerical model accounting for the multiferroic behavior of a polymer composite of the above-described type is proposed and confirmed experimentally on a polymer-based dispersion of iron and lead zirconate micron-size particles.

The Gulf Stream and the Californian Current as Factors Affecting the Behavior and Health of Americans

Due to the existence of the Earth's geomagnetic field, Lorentz’s forces constantly act on all sea currents. These forces distribute the charges of sea currents in both vertical and horizontal directions. In particular, this distribution manifests itself in the electric polarization of sea currents in directions perpendicular to them. So, earlier it was shown that the same Lorentz forces cause negative electrization of the Sargasso Sea. It is also shown here that the positive electrization of the western edge of the Gulf Stream and, consequently, the eastern coast of the United States is also caused by the Lorentz force arising from the interaction of this sea current with the vertical component of the geomagnetic field. It is also shown here that the positive electrization of east edge of California Current together with west coast of USA is also caused due to the similar reasons. All this allows us to conclude that an increased concentration of positive air ions is constantly retained in the air both in the east and in the west of the United States. This situation has caused the need for an analysis of how the predominantly positive electrization of the air affects both human health and their physical and mental activity. The results of this analysis are presented here. It is also shown that these results can be useful for residents of some other countries.

Low magnetic-field induced high temperature dynamic magnetoelectric coupling performances in Z-type Sr3Co2Fe24O41

Magnetic-field induced dynamic magnetoelectric coupling effects and polarization performance of Z-type Sr3Co2Fe24O41 (SCFO) ceramic has been investigated. Results found that SCFO’s transverse tapered magnetic structure can induce electric polarization, and its electric polarization direction will not change under external magnetic effects. First-order dynamic magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (α) and second-order dynamic magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (β) of SCFO exhibited strong response main in magnetic structural phase transition region. The magnetoelectric structural phase transition position appeared in low magnetic field, and the magnetic moment vector and its corresponding electric polarization vector of SCFO exhibited the most unstable state near its equilibrium position, which is beneficial for inducing strong dynamic magnetoelectric coupling response. When the applied magnetic fields to SCFO increased, the magnetic moment stability near the equilibrium position increased, and the dynamic magnetoelectric coupling response decreased. Results showed that the dynamic magnetoelectric coupling response of SCFO can bear T1 = 370 K high temperature. The dynamic magnetoelectric coupling response induced by low magnetic fields in SCFO contributes to its actual application in next generation magnetoelectric information storage devices.

Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D van der Waals materials: Related physics and future opportunities

Near the 100th anniversary of the discovery of ferroelectricity, so-called sliding ferroelectricity has been proposed and confirmed recently in a series of experiments that have stimulated remarkable interest. Such ferroelectricity exists widely and exists only in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals stacked layers, where the vertical electric polarization is switched by in-plane interlayer sliding. Reciprocally, interlayer sliding and the “ripplocation” domain wall can be driven by an external vertical electric field. The unique combination of intralayer stiffness and interlayer slipperiness of 2D van der Waals layers greatly facilitates such switching while still maintaining environmental and mechanical robustness at ambient conditions. In this perspective, we discuss the progress and future opportunities in this behavior. The origin of such ferroelectricity as well as a general rule for judging its existence are summarized, where the vertical stacking sequence is crucial for its formation. This discovery broadens 2D ferroelectrics from very few material candidates to most of the known 2D materials. Their low switching barriers enable high-speed data writing with low energy cost. Related physics like Moiré ferroelectricity, the ferroelectric nonlinear anomalous Hall effect, and multiferroic coupling are discussed. For 2D valleytronics, nontrivial band topology and superconductivity, their possible couplings with sliding ferroelectricity via certain stacking or Moiré ferroelectricity also deserve interest. We provide critical reviews on the current challenges in this emerging area.

Aftereffects in the Transient Electromagnetic Method: Inductively Induced Polarization

—Inductively induced electric polarization (IIP) is one of the aftereffects inherent in the geologic materials and affecting results of the transient electromagnetic method. Its effect on the inductive transient response manifests itself as a nonmonotonic EMF decay, including the polarity reversal. The dependence of IIP on many conditions makes it difficult to study the basic regularities in its manifestation. One of the ways to address this problem is to present the simulation results as a normalized transient response. From the most general point of view, the intensity and time range of the IIP manifestation are controlled by the competition between induction and induced polarization phenomena. Induced polarization manifests itself differently, depending on the transmitter used for the excitation of the ground response. Therefore, when studying polarizable ground, the results of the conventional IP method and those of the TEM method do not always correlate.