title: Interface control of emergent ferroic order in Ruddlesden-Popper Sr(n+1)Ti(n)O(3n+1).
abstract: We discovered from first principles an unusual polar state in the low n Sr(n+1)Ti(n)O(3n+1) Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) layered perovskites in which ferroelectricity is nearly degenerate with antiferroelectricity, a relatively rare form of ferroic order. We show that epitaxial strain plays a key role in tuning the "perpendicular coherence length" of the ferroelectric mode, and does not induce ferroelectricity in these low-dimensional RP materials as is well known to occur in SrTiO(3). These systems present an opportunity to manipulate the coherence length of a ferroic distortion in a controlled way, without disorder or a free surface.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birol
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Benedek
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fennie