Multiferroic phase field models of the coupled dynamics of bismuth ferrite

In this research program, I will develop and use a tool solving for the dynamics of the coupled spin and structural (polarization and oxygen octahedral tilts) order parameters in bismuth ferrite nanostructures.

The final outcome will be twofold: (1) advancements in the understanding and optimization of the collective magnetoelectric (ME) switching of BFO at the mesoscale.

The focus will be on elucidating the influence of domain topology, size, elastic and electrical boundary conditions on the ME coupling (and resulting switching properties useful for an emergent device concept). (2) an open-source computational package to simulate both magnetic dipoles and structural distortions in a single dynamical phase-field simulation, useful for both BFO and also other multiferroic compounds.

The developed open-source software Ferret, will be benchmarked against available codes and methods and to demonstrate a rigorous feasibility for use in academic research and industrial applications.