Low-frequency magnetoelectric effect in a Galfenol-PZT planar composite structure

The forward and inverse magnetoelectric (ME) effects are experimentally studied in a two-layer planar structure containing mechanically coupled Galfenol and PZT plates. The process of production of polycrystalline Galfenol plates and their magnetic and magnetostriction characteristics are described. For the forward ME conversion, the dependences of the amplitude of the voltage generated by the structure on the magnitude and orientation of a dc magnetic field and the frequency and amplitude of a modulating magnetic field are measured. For the inverse ME conversion, the dependences of the amplitude of the change in the magnetic induction of the structure on the dc magnetic field and the frequency of an ac electric field applied to the structure are measured. The efficiencies of the forward and inverse ME conversion are estimated for the case of low-frequency field modulation and under conditions of the resonance excitation of bending and longitudinal mechanical vibrations in the structure.