Discontinuous domain wall motion in the relaxor \nferroelectric

Abstract

\n \nThe relaxor ferroelectric strontium-barium-niobate is\ncharacterized by internal random electric fields at the\norigin of its relaxor behavior. The electric poling cycle\ninduces an irreversible transition into a ferroelectric\nstate accompanied by a large flow of mobile charges. Bipolar\nfields applied in the poled state yield no acoustic\nemissions for half-cycles in poling direction. In contrast,\ndiscontinuous domain wall movement is observed under reverse\nfields. The data cannot be explained by homogeneous clouds\nor gradients of space charge, but necessitate charge cluster\nformation to a certain degree. The irreversibility of the\npoling process necessitates charge carrier activation by\nlarge electric fields.\n\n