Exotic Topological States in Ferroelectric perovskites

Columnar ferroelectric nanodomains with noncolinear polarization components resulting in skyrmion topological charge were theoretically predicted to exist in ferroelectrics like PbTiO3 and later they were clearly observed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices. Here we use molecular dynamics simulation with atomistic potentials in order to explore whether similar columnar nanodomains can exist also in other ferroelectrics. Our results show that e.g. the rhombohedral phase of BaTiO3 not only allows stable columnar nanodomains parallel to the polarization axis, but that these nanodomains are associated with a completely different arrangement of the in-plane polarization, leading to an exotic skyrmion topological charge and outstanding stability. We will report about nucleation, annihilation and possible functional properties of these topological defects.