Multiferroic order in FeVO 4 Gavin Lawes, Wayne State University, DMR 0644823

1. Multiferroic order in FeVO4Gavin Lawes, Wayne State University, DMR 0644823 Although multiferroic order has been identified in numerous materials exhibiting complex magnetic structure, there is still considerable uncertainty concerning the microscopic origins of the spin-charge coupling. While (unsuccessfully) attempting to prepare Fe3V2O8, we serendipitously synthesized FeVO4, and quickly identified this system as multiferroic, confirming a result that had recently appeared in a pre-print. In order to clarify whether the multiferroic transition was associated with any structural distortion, we conducted temperature dependent Raman studies, illustrated in the figure. These measurements show that the phonon frequencies increase in the magnetically ordered state but, surprisingly, relax with the onset of multiferroic order. Temperature dependence of several Raman peaks in FeVO4. TN2 marks the onset of magnetic order, while the system develops multiferroic order at TN1. These studies may help clarify the mechanisms for multiferroic coupling.

2. Multiferroic order in FeVO4Gavin Lawes, Wayne State University, DMR 0644823 • Notable broader impact activities for the past academic year include: • Technical presentation on Type 1a supernovae at the Dearborn Center for Math, Science, and Technology in May 2009. • Organized scientific exchange between Wayne State University and IIT Madras (Chennai, India). This included two graduate students from WSU traveling to India in January 2009 to conduct research on multiferroics, with a return trip to Detroit by IITM graduate students. • Participation of two area high school students (Joe Tuohey, summer 2008 and Mike Nowak, summer 2009) in experimental and computational research projects. Timothy James presents his research at IIT Madras in Chennai, India while participating in an exchange program during January 2009.