Linear dichroic soft X-ray microscopy of ferroelectric stripe domains in epitaxial K$_\mathbf{0.6}$Na$_\mathbf{0.4}$NbO$_\mathbf{3}$

M. Schneider; T. A. Butcher; S. Wagner; D. Metternich; C. Klose; E. Malm; R. Battistelli; V. Deinhart; J. Fuchs; S. Wittrock; T. Karaman; K. Puzhekadavil Joy; M. Patras; F. Büttner; S. Wintz; M. Weigand; C. M. Günther; D. Engel; P. Gaal; J. Schwarzkopf; B. Pfau; S. Eisebitt

arXiv · 2603.14079

Linear dichroic soft X-ray microscopy of ferroelectric stripe domains in epitaxial K$_\mathbf{0.6}$Na$_\mathbf{0.4}$NbO$_\mathbf{3}$

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Abstract

Functional properties of ferroelectric thin films are governed by domains that can be engineered by epitaxial strain. Soft X-ray microscopy can image domain structures with elemental and electronic sensitivity, but hitherto its application to strain-stabilized domains has been hindered by the absorption of soft X-rays in epitaxial substrates. Here, it is demonstrated how this limitation can be overcome by locally back-thinning the (110) TbScO$_3$ substrate of epitaxial K$_{0.6}$Na$_{0.4}$NbO$_3$ ferroelectric thin films to achieve soft X-ray transparency at the O K-edge around 530 eV. Strain-induced ferroelectric stripe domains with periods down to 44 nm were resolved by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and coherent diffractive imaging by exploiting the X-ray linear dichroism of hybridized O 2p-Nb 4d states, providing sensitivity to in-plane polarization components under normal incidence. The results establish soft X-ray microscopy for nanoscale imaging of epitaxial ferroelectric domains structures and open perspectives for time-resolved studies thereof.

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M. Schneider, T. A. Butcher, S. Wagner, D. Metternich, C. Klose, E. Malm, R. Battistelli, V. Deinhart, J. Fuchs, S. Wittrock, T. Karaman, K. Puzhekadavil Joy, M. Patras, F. Büttner, S. Wintz, M. Weigand, C. M. Günther, D. Engel, P. Gaal, J. Schwarzkopf, B. Pfau, S. Eisebitt. 2026-03-14. Linear dichroic soft X-ray microscopy of ferroelectric stripe domains in epitaxial K$_\mathbf{0.6}$Na$_\mathbf{0.4}$NbO$_\mathbf{3}$. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14079

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