The effect of magnetic domain wall motion induced by electric field is observed in epitaxial iron garnet films grown on (210) and (110) gadolinium-gallium garnet substrates. The displacement of the domain wall changes to the opposite at the reversal of electric field polarity, and it is independent of the magnetic polarity of the domains. Dynamic observation of the domain wall motion in 400 V electric pulses gives the domain wall velocity of about 50 m/s. The same velocity is achieved in a magnetic field pulse of about 50 Oe. This type of magnetoelectric effect is implemented in single phase material at room temperature.

Spiral multiferroics whose ferroelectricity is driven by spatial spin modulation attract considerable attention due to strong magnetoelectric coupling observed in them. The present paper shows that a similar mechanism is involved in the case of conventional micromagnetic structures such as domain walls. It is shown experimentally and theoretically that the domain wall in iron garnet films has electric polarization which can be switched by an external magnetic field. From the practical application standpoint it provides an intriguing opportunity of micromagnetic structures controlled by an electric field in low-power-consumption spintronic and magnonic devices.

This paper briefly reviews research of the magnetoelectric materials and multiferroics as domain-structured media. The review is focused on magnetoelectric phenomena in epitaxial iron garnet films (electrically induced displacement and tilting of domain boundaries) as a striking example of magnetoelectricity in micromagnetism. The paper also considers the effect of an electric field on other topological defects in magnetically ordered media, including Bloch lines and Bloch points at domain boundaries, magnetic vortices, and skyrmions.

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