Concentric circular bands of polarization found in a ferroelectric polymer

A team of researchers from China, the U.S. and Australia has found an example of the formation of concentric circular bands of polarization in a ferroelectric polymer. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes the creation of whirlpools at the nano- and microscale and possible uses for the resulting toroidal textures in their materials. Lane Martin with the University of California, Berkeley, has published a Perspectives piece in the same journal issue outlining research involved in creating tiny whirlpools and the work by the team on this new effort.