title: Evolution of the domain topology in a ferroelectric.
abstract: Topological materials, including topological insulators, magnets with Skyrmions and ferroelectrics with topological vortices, have recently attracted phenomenal attention in the materials science community. Complex patterns of ferroelectric domains in hexagonal REMnO(3) (RE: rare earths) turn out to be associated with the macroscopic emergence of Z(2)×Z(3) symmetry. The results of our depth profiling of crystals with a self-poling tendency near surfaces reveal that the partial dislocation (i.e., wall-wall) interaction, not the interaction between vortices and antivortices, is primarily responsible for topological condensation through the macroscopic breaking of the Z(2) symmetry.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horibe
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: S-W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cheong
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D017895:Manganese Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017895:Manganese Compounds; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D010087:Oxides; C027424:manganese oxide