Total scattering from multiferroic bismuth ferrite at high temperatures

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is the archetypal multiferroic material and as such has been copiously studied using a wide variety of techniques. Despite this, new structural and magnetic features continue to emerge. We have previously carried out a total scattering study on this material, investigating the extent to which the local atomic and magnetic arrangements may deviate from their average structures and the implications for the material's properties. In particular we have demonstrated anomalous behaviour of the electric dipoles above room temperature. However, we were only previously able to measure two temperatures in this region and therefore have limited data to determine exactly what is happening. We therefore propose to repeat our experiment at more closely spaced temperatures above room temperature in order to elucidate this complex behaviour.