Rapid heat assisted polarization reversal in ferroelectric thin films

Abstract

We demonstrate that switching of ferroelectric thin-films sandwiched between metallic electrodes can be controlled by laser-assisted heating, reminiscent of heat-assisted magnetic recording. We employ electrical switching cycles that quantify the electrically switchable remanent polarization $P_{\mathrm{r}}$ and show that 300\,ns voltage pulses alone change the polarization by less than $\Delta P<P_{\mathrm{r}}$. Transient heating of the metallic top electrode by synchronized ns laser-pulses induces a reversal $\Delta P^{\mathrm{L}}>P_{\mathrm{r}}$ of the average polarization. The transient average temperature modeled by the heat equation can rationalize the polarization change observed for different relative timing $\Delta t$ of the laser pulse, if it arrives before the electrical pulse.

5 pages, 3 Figures