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Observation of room-temperature polar skyrmions

Author

Listed:
  • S. Das

    (University of California)

  • Y. L. Tang

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Z. Hong

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • M. A. P. Gonçalves

    (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST))

  • M. R. McCarter

    (University of California)

  • C. Klewe

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • K. X. Nguyen

    (Cornell University)

  • F. Gómez-Ortiz

    (Universidad de Cantabria)

  • P. Shafer

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • E. Arenholz

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • V. A. Stoica

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • S.-L. Hsu

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • B. Wang

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • C. Ophus

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • J. F. Liu

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • C. T. Nelson

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • S. Saremi

    (University of California)

  • B. Prasad

    (University of California)

  • A. B. Mei

    (Cornell University)

  • D. G. Schlom

    (Cornell University
    Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science)

  • J. Íñiguez

    (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
    University of Luxembourg)

  • P. García-Fernández

    (Universidad de Cantabria)

  • D. A. Muller

    (Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science
    Cornell University)

  • L. Q. Chen

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • J. Junquera

    (Universidad de Cantabria)

  • L. W. Martin

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • R. Ramesh

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    University of California)

Abstract

Complex topological configurations are fertile ground for exploring emergent phenomena and exotic phases in condensed-matter physics. For example, the recent discovery of polarization vortices and their associated complex-phase coexistence and response under applied electric fields in superlattices of (PbTiO3)n/(SrTiO3)n suggests the presence of a complex, multi-dimensional system capable of interesting physical responses, such as chirality, negative capacitance and large piezo-electric responses1–3. Here, by varying epitaxial constraints, we discover room-temperature polar-skyrmion bubbles in a lead titanate layer confined by strontium titanate layers, which are imaged by atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. Phase-field modelling and second-principles calculations reveal that the polar-skyrmion bubbles have a skyrmion number of +1, and resonant soft-X-ray diffraction experiments show circular dichroism, confirming chirality. Such nanometre-scale polar-skyrmion bubbles are the electric analogues of magnetic skyrmions, and could contribute to the advancement of ferroelectrics towards functionalities incorporating emergent chirality and electrically controllable negative capacitance.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Das & Y. L. Tang & Z. Hong & M. A. P. Gonçalves & M. R. McCarter & C. Klewe & K. X. Nguyen & F. Gómez-Ortiz & P. Shafer & E. Arenholz & V. A. Stoica & S.-L. Hsu & B. Wang & C. Ophus & J. F. Liu & C, 2019. "Observation of room-temperature polar skyrmions," Nature, Nature, vol. 568(7752), pages 368-372, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:568:y:2019:i:7752:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1092-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1092-8
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