Dielectric relaxation in a nonferroelectric phase of magneto-electric multiferroic CuFeO2

Magnetic oxide CuFeO2 is a rare magneto-electric multiferroic where magnetic field-induced or nonmagnetic impurity-induced proper helical magnetic ordering generates a spontaneous electric polarization. We have measured the complex permittivity in various magnetic phases under an applied magnetic field up to 15 T, and found distinct Debye-type-like dielectric dispersion with low relaxation frequency in only 4-sublattice (4SL) magnetic phase among various (4SL, ferroelectric incommensurate, 5-sublattice, partially disordered and paramagnetic) magnetic phases. The relaxation frequency of dielectric dispersion shows interesting anisotropic magnetic field dependence. As one possible explanation of this phenomenon, we will discuss the dielectric dispersion in terms of 4SL-specific magnetic domain wall motion and corresponding displacement of oxygen near magnetic domain wall, instead of so-called Maxwell-Wagner effect in the dielectric system with heterogeneous nature.