Multiferroic vortices

ORAL

Abstract

Hexagonal REMnO$_3$ (RE=Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) is an improper ferroelectric where the size mismatch between RE layers and Mn-O layers induces a simultaneous ferroelectric-trimerization structural phase transition [1]. The six types of ferroelectric-trimerization domains merge one point, and form a vortex or antivortices, depending on vorticity. A zoo of vortices and antivortices form into a topologically-nontrivial network, and intriguing collective magnetism develops at the domain walls of the vortex-antivortex network. In addition, we found that bound states of vortices and antivortices can also develop. We will discuss the formation of the vortex-antivortex network and the vortex-antivortex bound states in terms of the interaction between two neighboring domain walls and that between a vortex and an antivortex.\\[4pt] [1] T. Choi et al., Nature Mater. \textbf{9}, 253 (2010).\\[0pt] [2] S. C. Chae et al., PRL \textbf{108}, 167603 (2012).

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Authors

  • S.-W. Cheong

    RCEM/Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers Univ., Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers U., NJ, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University

  • Seung Chul Chae

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University

  • Xueyun Wang

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University

  • Fei-Ting Huang

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University

  • Y. Horibe

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University