Dielectric modulation of two-dimensional dipolar materials

Spontaneous pattern formation plays an important role in a wide variety of natural phenomena and materials systems. A key ingredient for the occurrence of modulated phases is the presence of competing interactions, generally of different physical origins. We demonstrate that in dipolar films, a prototypical system for pattern formation, patterns can be induced by dielectric effects alone [1]. A rich phase diagram arises, where striped and circular morphologies emerge with geometric properties that can be controlled through variation of particle shape and substrate permittivity or permeability. These effects are particularly enhanced by metamaterial substrates.

[1] Z. Wang and E. Luijten, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 096101 (2019).