Converse magnetoelectric effects in a galfenol and lead zirconate titanate bilayer

Polycrystalline samples of galfenol Fe1−xGax (x=0.17–0.3) have been prepared and used in a bilayer with lead zirconate titanate for studies on the magnetoelectric (ME) effect. The converse ME effect which is the magnetic response of the sample to an applied ac electric field has been investigated. Piezoelectric deformations due the electric field result in an induced magnetization in galfenol that is measured as a voltage U in a pick-up coil wound on the bilayer. A resonance enhancement in the magnitude of U is evident for bending oscillations and longitudinal acoustic oscillations in the bilayer. Data on U as a function of the strength and orientation of bias field H show a maximum in ME coupling strength for in-plane component of H≈250Oe. The data have been analyzed in terms of H dependence of the magnetostriction for galfenol. The converse ME coupling is strong enough for use of the bilayer as a sensor of magnetic and electric fields.