Probing short-range polar order in PZN-xPT and PMN-xPT relaxor ferroelectrics with neutron scattering

ORAL

Abstract

We have performed neutron scattering measurements on single crystal PZN-xPT and PMN-xPT samples. One of the key issues in these materials is the role of polar nano-regions (PNR), how the short-range orders coexist with long-range polar order and influence the bulk property. With diffuse scattering measurements carried out under external field along different directions, we were able to monitor how the dominant part of the diffuse scattering of "butterfly diffuse" that extends along <110> directions change with field. We observe an anormal suppression of diffuse scattering in Tetragonal phase near 400K and recover in Rhombohedral phase. We also investigate acoustic phonon, which are also affectted in the same narrow temperature range. Our results suggest that the polar nano-regions are robust local orders that are locked in within the surrounding polar environment below Tc, and also strongly interact with acoustic phonon modes that induces instability in these systems.

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Presenters

  • Zhijun Xu

    NIST Center for neutron research, National Institute of Standard and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, University of Maryland, College Park and NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Authors

  • Zhijun Xu

    NIST Center for neutron research, National Institute of Standard and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, University of Maryland, College Park and NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Guangyong Xu

    NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NCNR, NIST, NIST Center for Neutron Research

  • Peter M Gehring

    NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NCNR, NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Chris Stock

    University of Edinburgh, Physics, University of Edinburgh, U. Edingburgh, Univ of Edinburgh

  • Fei Li

    Penn State U.

  • Shujun Zhang

    U. Wollongong

  • Z. -G. Ye

    Simon Fraser U.