Abstract
The interplay between the electron transport in metal-ferroelectric-metal junctions with ultrathin ferroelectric barriers and the polarization state of a barrier is investigated. Using a model which takes into account screening of polarization charges in metallic electrodes and direct quantum tunneling across a ferroelectric barrier, we calculate the change in the tunneling conductance associated with the polarization switching. We find the conductance change of a few orders of magnitude for metallic electrodes with significantly different screening lengths. This giant electroresistance effect is the consequence of a different potential profile seen by transport electrons for the two opposite polarization orientations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 246802 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 24 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy