Electric field control of magnetic anisotropies and magnetic coercivity in Fe/BaTiO3(001) heterostructures

Magnetoelectric effects in Fe/BaTiO3(001) heterostructures have been investigated via magneto-optical Kerr effect as a function of temperature. We find major modifications of magnetic anisotropies and magnetic coercivity induced by the application of electric fields perpendicular to the interface. Changes in the coercive magnetic field, on the order of 100% at 250 K (in the orthorhombic phase of BaTiO3) and 40% at 300 K (in the tetragonal phase), which are linked to the ferroelectric behavior of BaTiO3, are reported. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3554432]