The Ferroelectric Point Contact

TL;DR

This paper develops a scattering theory for polarization and heat transport in ballistic ferroelectric point contacts, predicting measurable polarization currents influenced by electric fields or temperature gradients.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scattering theory for ferroelectric point contacts, linking polarization currents to external stimuli and their magnetic and thermoelectric signatures.

Findings

Polarization current depends on ferroelectric order direction.

Detection via magnetic stray field and thermoelectric effects.

Predicts strong polarization response to electric and thermal biases.

Abstract

We formulate a scattering theory of polarization and heat transport through a ballistic ferroelectric point contact. We predict a polarization current under either an electric field or a temperature difference that depends strongly on the direction of the ferroelectric order and can be detected by its magnetic stray field and associated thermovoltage and Peltier effect.