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Updated: Sep 9, 2026

Chemical Synthesis of Porous Barium Titanate Thin Film and Thermal Stabilization of Ferroelectric Phase by Porosity-Induced Strain
Published on: March 27, 2018
Electric-field switching of g-wave phonon chirality in ferroelectric BaTiO3
Michael Grimes1, Hiroki Ueda2, Clifford J Allington3
1Center for Photon Science, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland. michael.grimes@psi.ch.
Abstract:
Lattice vibrations carrying angular momentum, known as chiral phonons, offer a route to couple lattice, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom, but their deterministic control has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate reversible electric-field switching of phonon angular momentum in the technologically relevant ferroelectric BaTiO3. Using circularly dichroic resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, we directly resolve phonon chirality via angular momentum transfer between circularly polarized X-rays and the lattice. We observe a momentum-dependent dichroic response that switches with ferroelectric polarization, establishing a robust and non-volatile gyroelectric effect. The measured dichroism is in quantitative agreement with first-principles calculations. These results establish phonon angular momentum as an electrically controllable degree of freedom and provide a pathway towards phonon-based information and energy technologies.
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