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arXiv · 1002.0716

Interplay between static and dynamic polar correlations in relaxor Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_{3}

C. Stock·L. Van Eijck·P. Fouquet·M. Maccarini·P. M. Gehring·Guangyong Xu·H. Luo·X. Zhao·J. -F. Li·D. Viehland
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Abstract

We have characterized the dynamics of the polar nanoregions in Pb(Mg$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_{3}$ (PMN) through high-resolution neutron backscattering and spin-echo measurements of the diffuse scattering cross section. We find that the diffuse scattering intensity consists of \emph{both} static and dynamic components. The static component first appears at the Curie temperature $\Theta \sim 400$ K, while the dynamic component freezes completely at the temperature T$_{f} \sim 200$ K; together, these components account for all of the observed spectral weight contributing to the diffuse scattering cross section. The integrated intensity of the dynamic component peaks near the temperature at which the frequency-dependent dielectric constant reaches a maximum (T$_{max}$) when measured at 1 GHz, i. e. on a timescale of $\sim 1$ ns. Our neutron scattering results can thus be directly related to dielectric and infra-red measurements of the polar nanoregions. Finally, the global temperature dependence of the diffuse scattering can be understood in terms of just two temperature scales, which is consistent with random field models.

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C. Stock, L. Van Eijck, P. Fouquet, M. Maccarini, P. M. Gehring, Guangyong Xu, H. Luo, X. Zhao, J. -F. Li, D. Viehland. 2010-02-03. Interplay between static and dynamic polar correlations in relaxor Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_{3}. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.81.144127

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