Ferroelectric Properties of BaTiO₃

First-principles computations correctly describe the ferroelectric distortions and the macroscopic polarization of BaTiO₃ in agreement with experiment. Computations of the vibrational properties (phonons) reveal that a cubic perovskite structure of BaTiO₃ becomes stable under compression of the lattice. This demonstrates the usefulness of first-principles calculations in the design and optimization of ferroelectric materials.