Does Highly Dilute KTaO₃:Li Undergo Collective Glassy Freezing?

Abstract

Zero-field heating (ZFH) susceptibility after zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) of highly diluted single crystalline sample of K_0.995Li_0.005TaO₃, KLT(005) was measured in order to check, if such composition undergoes a collective dipolar glassy freezing. The results are compared with that obtained for the typical glassy system K_0.989Li_0.011TaO₃, KLT(011). It is concluded that the highly dilute KLT(005) compound does not bear convincing features typical of collective dipolar glassy freezing. It is proposed that the low-temperature state of KLT(005) may be considered as a quantum superparaelectric one that may be toggled into an improper ferroelectric while applying an electric field.

Keywords:

• Quantum paraelectrics
• potassium tantalate
• dipolar glass

Acknowledgments

Work was supported by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) with an Alexander-von-Humboldt Honorary Research Grant.