title: Evolution of nanodomains in the uniaxial relaxor Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6:Ce.
abstract: The evolution of the nanodomain pattern of the uniaxial relaxor ferroelectric strontium barium niobate doped with cerium was studied by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The fractal-like nanodomains observed at room temperature decay on heating. At temperatures up to about 15 K above the Curie temperature, Tc = 320 K, areas of correlated polarization are still visible. On cooling from the paraelectric state to below Tc, a slow isothermal growth of nanodomain was found. The mean domain size increases according to a logarithmic law as predicted for the three-dimensional random field Ising model.
authors.affiliation: Angewandte Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany. vladimir@kleemann.uni-duisburg.de
authors.forename: Vladimir V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Shvartsman
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kleemann
mesh_terms: D017609:Barium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D010316:Particle Size; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds; D009566:Nitrates; D002563:Cerium; C023545:barium nitrate; D013324:Strontium