Ferroelectric Polarization Reversal vs Pump Spot Shape

Abstract

It has recently been shown that the polarization of a ferroelectric can be strongly affected by light pumping or even transiently reversed by mid-IR pumping within a record short subpicosecond timescale. It was then suggested that the reversal of polarization is most likely prevented by the depolarizing field that appears during the process. To minimize the effect of the depolarizing field, I propose to create an elongated domain by choosing a corresponding pump spot shape. I calculate the polarization dynamics for a particular experimental setup with mid-IR pumping and show that the polarization reversal is possible in this case.