By: Hugo Aramberri - Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
When: November, 14 - 12PM
Where: Salón de Actos, ICMM
Abstract: Electrostically frustrated ferroelectrics have become an exciting playground for new physics. In these systems, the delicate balance between electrostatic, elastic and domain wall energies can make the system highly responsive, and can give rise to diverse dipole topologies. A notable breakthrough was the recent realization of electric skyrmion bubbles in ferroelectric/dielectric superlattices (PbTiO3/SrTiO3). Interestingly, the topology of the dipole field can be manipulated through external stimuli like temperature and electric fields, and also by tuning heterojunction design parameters like layer thicknesses and epitaxial strain.
In this talk I will present our recent contributions to this field. First, I will discuss a temperature-driven topological phase transition of the dipolar order that mirrors the two-step melting process seen in some liquid crystals. Second, I will introduce our recent prediction that electric bubble domains behave as Brownian particles, exhibiting thermally activated diffusive motion, similar to magnetic skyrmions. I will also share our latest calculations on bubble manipulation and outline our ongoing efforts to understand their dynamical behaviour.
