Preprint
Imaging and structure analysis of ferroelectric domains, domain walls, and vortices by scanning electron diffraction
arXiv (Cornell University)
09 May 2023
Abstract
Direct electron detectors in scanning transmission electron microscopy give
unprecedented possibilities for structure analysis at the nanoscale. In
electronic and quantum materials, this new capability gives access to, for
example, emergent chiral structures and symmetry-breaking distortions that
underpin functional properties. Quantifying nanoscale structural features with
statistical significance, however, is complicated by the subtleties of dynamic
diffraction and coexisting contrast mechanisms, which often results in low
signal-to-noise and the superposition of multiple signals that are challenging
to deconvolute. Here we apply scanning electron diffraction to explore local
polar distortions in the uniaxial ferroelectric Er(Mn,Ti)O$_3$. Using a
custom-designed convolutional autoencoder with bespoke regularization, we
demonstrate that subtle variations in the scattering signatures of
ferroelectric domains, domain walls, and vortex textures can readily be
disentangled with statistical significance and separated from extrinsic
contributions due to, e.g., variations in specimen thickness or bending. The
work demonstrates a pathway to quantitatively measure symmetry-breaking
distortions across large areas, mapping structural changes at interfaces and
topological structures with nanoscale spatial resolution.
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Details
- Title
- Imaging and structure analysis of ferroelectric domains, domain walls, and vortices by scanning electron diffraction
- Creators
- Ursula LudackaJiali HeShuyu QinManuel ZahnEmil Frang ChristiansenKasper A HunnestadZewu YanEdith BourretIstván KézsmárkiAntonius T. J van HelvoortJoshua AgarDennis Meier
- Publication Details
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Other Identifier
- 991021878113104721