Toroidal polar topology in strained ferroelectric polymer

Polarization hits a bull's-eye Polymer-based ferroelectric materials are attractive because they can be solution processed cheaply and have much greater flexibility than ceramics. Guo et al. found concentric circular bands of polarization in a ferroelectric polymer that look like a bull's-eye target (see the Perspective by Martin). This self-organized toroidal texture is aligned perpendicularly to the axis of the polymer chains, allowing the authors to demonstrate selective absorption of infrared radiation and manipulation of terahertz radiation. This distinct structure in a polymer could be of interest for exploring and using other exotic effects. Science , this issue p. 1050 ; see also p. 992