Labile ferroelastic nanodomains in bilayered ferroelectric thin films

Bilayered Pb(Zr((1-x)),Ti(x))O(3) ferroelectric thin film heterostructures show complex ferroelastic nanodomain patterns. These ferroelastic nanodomains exist only in the upper layer, and hence are able to move under the application of an external electric field. Quantitative analysis reveals an enhanced piezoelectric coefficient of similar to 220 pm V(-1), rendering them attractive for a variety of electromechanical devices.

Measuring the Characteristic Function of the Work Distribution

We propose an interferometric setting for the ancilla-assisted measurement of the characteristic function of the work distribution following a time-dependent process experienced by a quantum system. We identify how the configuration of the effective interferometer is linked to the symmetries enjoyed by the Hamiltonian ruling the process and provide the explicit form of the operations to implement in order to accomplish our task. We finally discuss two physical settings, based on hybrid optomechanical-electromechanical devices, where the theoretical proposals discussed in our work could find an experimental demonstration.