Theory of electromagnons in the multiferroic Mn perovskites: the vital role of higher harmonic components of the spiral spin order.

We study theoretically the electromagnon and its optical spectrum (OS) of the terahertz-frequency regime in the magnetic-spiral-induced multiferroic phases of the rare-earth-metal (R) Mn perovskites, RMnO3, taking into account the spin-angle modulation or the higher harmonics of the spiral spin configuration, which has been missed so far. A realistic spin Hamiltonian, which gives phase diagrams in agreement with experiments, resolves a puzzle, i.e., the double-peak structure of the OS with a larger low-energy peak originating from magnon modes hybridized with the zone-edge state. We also predict the magnon branches associated with the electromagnon, which can be tested by neutron-scattering experiment.