Vortex state in thin films of multicomponent ferroelectrics

The distribution of polarization in thin film of multicomponent weak anisotropic ferroelectric under application of an axially symmetric electric field induced by circular electrodes is studied. We demonstrate that above a certain critical field the instability towards abrupt formation of ferroelectric vortex state appears. The polarization distribution in the vortex state exhibits a doughnut shape in agreement with experimental data. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.