Session P10: Focus Session: Multiferroics II
8:00 AM–10:48 AM, Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Room: 304
Sponsoring Unit:
FIAP
Chair: Serge Nakhmanson, Argonne National Laboratory
Abstract ID: BAPS.2009.MAR.P10.3
Abstract: P10.00003 : Absence of Critical Thickness in an Ultrathin Improper Ferroelectric Film
8:48 AM–9:00 AM
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Abstract 
Authors:
Na Sai
(The University of Texas at Austin)
Craig J. Fennie
(Cornell University)
Alexander A. Demkov
(The University of Texas at Austin)
We study the ferroelectric stability and surface structural properties of an oxygen-terminated hexagonal YMnO$_3$ ultra-thin film using density functional theory. Under an open circuit boundary condition, the ferroelectric state with the spontaneous polarization normal to the (0001) surface, is found to be metastable in a single domain state despite the presence of a depolarizing field. We establish a connection between the result and the role of improper ferroelectric transition. Our results imply that improper ferroelectric ultrathin films can have rather unique properties that are distinctive from those of very thin films of ordinary ferroelectrics.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2009.MAR.P10.3