Abstract. The very recent use of first-principles-based simulations to investigate zero-dimensional ferroelectrics has led to the discovery of electric vortices, as well as of many original properties associated with these vortices. These original properties are of fundamental importance and of high technological promise, and are reviewed here.

Print publication: Issue 19 (14 May 2008)
Received 3 January 2008, in final form 27 February 2008
Published 8 April 2008