Investigation of polarization reversal and analysis of switching current data in KTP single crystals

ABSTRACT

We have studied the polarization reversal process and analyzed the switching currents in KTiOPO₄ single crystals with intermediate potassium content. The activation field dependence of the switching time has been revealed. Two stages of the polarization reversal have been distinguished during analysis of the switching current data. The first stage with smooth current corresponds to β(2D)-process fitted by Kolmogorov-Avrami formula. The second stage with spikes in the switching current caused by intensive domain merging was analyzed by a modified Korcak method. The obtained value of the Hurst exponent indicated the weak persistence of the switching process with long-time correlation.

KEYWORDS:

• KTiOPO₄
• domain kinetics
• polarization reversal
• switching current

Acknowledgments

The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern Nanotechnology” UrFU was used. The research was made possible by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No. 16-02-00724-а), Government of the Russian Federation (act 211, agreement 02.A03.21.0006) and the Grant of the President of Russian Federation for young scientists (MK-2837.2017.2). V.S. acknowledges financial support within the State Task from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (project No. 1366.2014/236).