Formation of vortex and antivortex polarization states in ferroelectric films

TL;DR

This paper uses a kinetic model based on Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory to study the formation and phase transitions of vortex and antivortex states in ferroelectric films, revealing vortex-antivortex-vortex triplets under localized fields.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical explanation for vortex and antivortex formation in ferroelectric films using a specific boundary condition and demonstrates the generation of vortex-antivortex-vortex triplets.

Findings

Vortex and antivortex states are formed in ferroelectric films.

Phase transition in toroidal moment is observed.

Vortex-antivortex-vortex triplet can be generated with localized fields.

Abstract

An effort based on the kinetic model allowed by Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory is presented here. The formation of vortex, antivortex states in ferroelectric films are reported and theoretically explained. Phase transition in toroidal moment is observed. Vortex-antivortex-vortex (V-AV-V) triplet is generated by applying inhomogeneous transverse static localized fields in x-y plane. A specific boundary condition is used to keep the spirit of vortex state i.e. the net polarization across the boundary is always zero. %This is neither a periodic nor an open circuit electric boundary condition.