Toroidal moments as indicator for magneto-electric coupling: the case of BiFeO_3 versus FeTiO_3

In this paper we present an analysis of the magnetic toroidal moment and its relation to the various structural modes in R3c-distorted perovskites with magnetic cations on either the perovskite A or B site. We evaluate the toroidal moment in the limit of localized magnetic moments and show that the full magnetic symmetry can be taken into account by considering small induced magnetic moments on the oxygen sites. Our results give a transparent picture of the possible coupling between magnetization, electric polarization, and toroidal moment, thereby highlighting the different roles played by the various structural distortions in multiferroic BiFeO_3 and in the recently discussed isostructural material FeTiO_3, which has been predicted to exhibit electric field-induced magnetization switching.