Rare earth trace element doping of extrinsic multiferroics for an energy efficient remote control of magnetic properties.

Developing functional materials for optical remote control of magnetism can lead to faster, more efficient wireless data storage and sensing devices. In terms of desired material properties, this development requires the combined optimization of elastic interactions, low magnetic coercivity, and a narrow linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance to establish low-loss dynamic functionalities. A general pathway to achieve these requirements is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate that rare-earth trace element doping of an extrinsic multiferroic promotes strain mediated energy efficient remote control of static and dynamic magnetic properties induced by non-pulsed visible light. The strain under illumination arises from the photostrictive property of the ferroelectric substrate whereas the magnetism control originates from the enhanced magnetostrictive property of a rare-earth trace element doped ferromagnetic thin film. Combining the light-strain-magnetic interaction in the rare-earth doped extrinsic multiferroic provides a general approach for enhanced photo-magnetic elastic control extendable to optically tunable magnetic devices.