Ferroelectric domain switching using passage of energetic charged particles

Abstract

The passage of charged particles through ferroelectric medium produces localized changes in spontaneous polarization within the material. As the beam traverses the medium, it produces an electric field perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the beam. A theoretical approach is presented to estimate the electric field that is produced in the ferroelectric medium by passage of energetic electron beam and proton beam that can be probed to see the switching of ferroelectric domains. The transverse electric field produced by the 6 MeV electron beam is 183.6 MV/cm and for 25 MeV Proton beam is 14.79 MV/cm at a radial distance of 1 nm from the rectilinear path. This electric field so produced is large enough to cause the switching of ferroelectric domains. The method demonstrates a unique tool to probe the mechanism of ferroelectric domain switching along the large surface of the medium without any physical contact. This paper describes the method of theoretical estimation of transverse electric field and the ferroelectric domain switching time at and around phase transition of a known ferroelectric sample of Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) crystal.