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Magnetoelectrics

Is CdCr2S4 a multiferroic relaxor? (reply)

Abstract

Catalan and Scott1 propose an alternative interpretation for our findings2 for CdCr2S4 in terms of Maxwell–Wagner effects. They also quote related isomorphs, such as HgCr2S4 (ref. 3), which has been discussed elsewhere4,5. As we have shown, Maxwell–Wagner relaxations can indeed strongly affect the dielectric properties of transition-metal oxides6,7 and semiconductors8. We do not find Catalan and Scott's arguments about CdCr2S4 convincing, however, and think that our experiments provide ample evidence for multiferroic relaxor behaviour.

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Figure 1: Temperature dependence of the relaxation rate of CdCr2S4.

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References

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Correspondence to Peter Lunkenheimer.

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Hemberger, J., Lunkenheimer, P., Fichtl, R. et al. Is CdCr2S4 a multiferroic relaxor? (reply). Nature 448, E5–E6 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06157

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