Persistent and Reversible Phase Control in GdMnO₃ near the Phase Boundary

We have investigated temperature and magnetic-field dependence of dielectric properties in the orthorhombic GdMnO$_3$ single crystal which is located near the phase boundary between the ferroelectric/spiral-antiferromagnetic phase and the paraelectric/$A$-type-antiferromagnetic one. In this compound, strong phase competition between these two phases results in a unique phase diagram with large temperature and magnetic-field hystereses. Based on the phase diagram, we have successfully demonstrated the persistent and reversible phase switching between them by application of magnetic fields.