Abstract
Polar domain walls are currently at the focus of intensive research owing to their unusual and highly localized functional properties, which bear great potential for technological applications. They can present unusual topological features, like swirling polar structures or defect lines. The prediction of possible non-Ising and chiral internal structures of polar domain walls has been a particularly important development in this topic over the past years. This Tutorial highlights the capabilities of non-linear optics to probe these newly discovered aspects in polar non-Ising type domain walls through the second-harmonic generation (SHG) process. Fundamental symmetry properties of domain walls are presented in the context of recent advances on chiral and abnormal polar structures. We introduce the basics of the SHG and its ability to probe the symmetry down to the nanoscale, and we explain how to obtain insight into the non-Ising character of polar domain walls by combining the SHG polarimetry analysis with modeling.
Highlights
Topological structures[1] including domain walls (DW), vortices, Bloch points, Bloch lines, bubbles, or skyrmions have attracted great attention owing to their ability to be created and controlled in ordered materials
We introduce the basics of the second-harmonic generation (SHG) and its ability to probe the symmetry down to the nanoscale, and we explain how to obtain insight into the non-Ising character of polar domain walls by combining the SHG polarimetry analysis with modeling
After an overview of fundamental aspects related to the local symmetry, the non-Ising character, and the properties of DWs, we present the basics of the SHG method and emphasize its ability to probe the local symmetry down to the nanoscale
Summary
Topological structures[1] including domain walls (DW), vortices, Bloch points, Bloch lines, bubbles, or skyrmions have attracted great attention owing to their ability to be created and controlled in ordered materials. The method has been used to demonstrate the existence of Néel-type domain walls in PbZrTiO3 thin films,[23,24] and to observe chiral Bloch walls and Bloch lines, a particular type of ferroelectric topological structures, in LiTaO3.24 This Tutorial highlights the capabilities of SHG microscopy to probe polar DWs and their internal structure.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.