Domain geometry engineering is one of the most essential application aspects of ferroic materials. Up to now domain geometries have been considered represented by 180° domain walls in samples of infinite size. Here a new possibility is addressed theoretically: periodic domain systems based on 90° domain pairs in a thin film. This case is realistic, as shown by bending plate-like samples of ferroelectric/ferroelastic materials. A symmetry-based analysis is presented of macroscopic properties of plate-like samples in which a 90° domain pattern similar to the Halbach array has been produced. The conclusions can lead to new application related properties of ferroelectric thin films.
Acknowledgments
Partial support of this work by Czech Grant Agency through grant No. 202/04/992 is appreciated (V.K.). The work of one of the authors (J.F.) was sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Czech Republic under Research Program MSM 242200002 and by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic under Grant No.202/02/1006.