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