Linear and Nonlinear Electric Susceptibility in the Quantum Domain State of SrTi¹⁸O₃

The complex dielectric susceptibility of SrTi¹⁸O₃ has been measured at frequencies 10⁻³ ≤ f ≤ 10⁵ Hz and temperatures 5 ≤ T ≤ 30 K with ac field amplitudes 0.01 ≤ E ₀ ≤ 10 kV/m in order to inspect different mechanisms of the polarization reversal. This system displays a very strong nonlinear effect in its quantum domain (“ferroelectric”) state as evidenced by the field dependence of the susceptibility. Depending on the amplitude of the probing field partial or almost complete polarization reversal can be achieved at moderate values of E ₀ being available in standard dielectric spectrometers.

Keywords:

• Domain state
• domain walls
• switching
• creep
• relaxation

Acknowledgments

Financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schwerpunktprogramm “Strukturgradienten”) is gratefully acknowledged.

Paper originally presented at IMF-11, Iguassu Falls, Brazil, September 5–9, 2005; received for publication January 26, 2006.