Dimensionality-Induced Change in Topological Order in Multiferroic Oxide Superlattices

We construct ferroelectric (LuFeO_{3})_{m}/(LuFe_{2}O_{4}) superlattices with varying index m to study the effect of confinement on topological defects. We observe a thickness-dependent transition from neutral to charged domain walls and the emergence of fractional vortices. In thin LuFeO_{3} layers...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2021-04, Vol.126 (15), p.157601-157601, Article 157601
Main Authors: Holtz, Megan E, Padgett, Elliot S, Steinhardt, Rachel, Brooks, Charles M, Meier, Dennis, Schlom, Darrell G, Muller, David A, Mundy, Julia A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Complex oxides
Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics
Confinement
Domain walls
Ferroelectric domains
Ferroelectric materials
Ferroelectricity
High temperature
MATERIALS SCIENCE
Microstructure
Molecular beam epitaxy
Physics
Scanning transmission electron microscopy
Structural order parameter
Subgroups
Superlattices
Thin films
Topological defects
Topology
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Summary:We construct ferroelectric (LuFeO_{3})_{m}/(LuFe_{2}O_{4}) superlattices with varying index m to study the effect of confinement on topological defects. We observe a thickness-dependent transition from neutral to charged domain walls and the emergence of fractional vortices. In thin LuFeO_{3} layers, the volume fraction of domain walls grows, lowering the symmetry from P6_{3}cm to P3c1 before reaching the nonpolar P6_{3}/mmc state, analogous to the group-subgroup sequence observed at the high-temperature ferroelectric to paraelectric transition. Our study shows how dimensional confinement stabilizes textures beyond those in bulk ferroelectric systems.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.157601