Dynamics of Polar Vortex Crystallization

作者：Suyash Rijal, Yousra Nahas, Sergei Prokhorenko, L. Bellaïche · 发表于：Physical Review Letters · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1103/physrevlett.133.096801 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Characterization and Applications of Magnetic Nanoparticles、Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation、Magnetic properties of thin films

Vortex crystals are commonly observed in ultrathin ferroelectrics. However, a clear physical picture of origin of this topological state is currently lacking. Here, we show that vortex crystallization in ultrathin Pb(Zr_{0.4},Ti_{0.6})O_{3} films stems from the softening of a phonon mode and can be described as a Z_{2}×SU(1) symmetry-breaking transition. This result sheds light on the topology of the polar vortex patterns and bridges polar vortices with smectic phases, spin spirals, and other modulated states. Finally, we predict a resonant switching of the vortex tube orientation driven by midinfrared laser light which could enable new technologies.