Faceting oscillations in nano-ferroelectrics

We observe periodic faceting of 8-nm diameter ferroelectric disks on a 10s time-scale when thin Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 film is exposed to constant high-resolution transmission electron microscopy beams. The oscillation is between circular disk geometry and sharply faceted hexagons. The behavior is analogous to that of spin structure and magnetic domain wall velocity oscillations in permalloy [Bisig et al., Nat. Commun. 4, 2328 (2013)], involving overshoot and de-pinning from defects [Amann et al., J. Rheol. 57, 149-175 (2013)]. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.