Ultrafast Polarization Switching in BaTiO$_3$ Nanomaterial: Combined DFT and Coupled Oscillator Study

TL;DR

This study combines DFT and coupled oscillator models to explore ultrafast polarization switching in BaTiO$_3$, revealing the limitations of single pulses and identifying optimal pulse parameters for depolarization.

Contribution

The paper introduces an enhanced model for polarization switching in BaTiO$_3$ using combined DFT and oscillator approaches, highlighting the ineffectiveness of single-linearly polarized pulses for stable switching.

Findings

Stable switching not achievable with a single linear pulse

Depolarization occurs at a threshold pulse intensity

Phonon friction has minimal impact on switching dynamics

Abstract

The challenge of achieving ultrafast switching of electric polarization in ferroelectric materials remains unsolved, as there is no experimental evidence of such switching to date. In this study, we have developed an enhanced model that describes switching within a two-dimensional space of generalized coordinates at THz pulses. Our findings indicate that stable switching in barium titanate cannot be achieved through a single linearly polarized pulse. When the intensity of the linearly polarized pulse reaches a certain threshold, the sample experiences depolarization, but not stable switching. Our study also reveals that phonon friction plays a minor role in the switching dynamics and provides an estimate of the optimal parameters of the perturbing pulse with the lowest intensity that results in depolarization of an initially polarized sample.