title: Novel complex phenomena in ferroelectric nanocomposites.
abstract: A first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is used to investigate finite-temperature properties of ferroelectric nanocomposites made of periodic arrays of ferroelectric nanowires embedded in a matrix formed by another ferroelectric material. Novel transitions and features related to flux-closure configurations are found. Examples include (i) a vortex core transition, that is characterized by the change of the vortex cores from being axisymmetric to exhibiting a 'broken symmetry'; (ii) translational mode of the vortex cores; (iii) striking zigzag dipolar chains along the vortex core axis; and (iv) phase-locking of ferroelectric vortices accompanied by ferroelectric antivortices. These complex phenomena are all found to coexist with a spontaneous electrical polarization aligned along the normal of the plane containing the vortices.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. llouis@uark.edu
authors.forename: Lydie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kornev
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geneste
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dkhil
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellaiche
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D013814:Thermal Conductivity
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles