Universal emergence of spatially-modulated structures induced by flexo-antiferrodistortive coupling in multiferroics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a universal coupling mechanism in multiferroics that induces spatially-modulated structures, offering a unified explanation for various experimentally observed domain patterns.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a universal flexo-antiferrodistortive coupling as a fundamental factor in multiferroics, expanding understanding of their domain structures.

Findings

Universal coupling exists in all antiferrodistortive systems.

Coupling leads to incommensurate, spatially-modulated phases.

Provides a mesoscopic explanation for observed domain structures.

Abstract

We proved the existence of a universal flexo-antiferrodistortive coupling as a necessary complement to the well-known flexoelectric coupling. The coupling is universal for all antiferrodistortive systems and can lead to the formation of incommensurate, spatially-modulated phases in multiferroics. Our analysis can provide a self-consistent mesoscopic explanation for a broad range of modulated domain structures observed experimentally in multiferroics.