Influence of domain structure on the nonlinear polarization properties of A 2 BX 4-group crystals

Harmonic analysis of repolarization in A ₂ BX ₄-group crystals in the ferroelectric phase near phase-transition temperature T _c is used to separate the contributions to the harmonic-component amplitudes in the output signal of a Sawyer-Tower circuit from charging the reference capacitor with capacitive and conductive current through such a crystal. Harmonic analysis of dielectric hysteresis loops obtained by placing a specimen in an electric field with harmonically changing strength reveals general regularities in the evolution of the domain walls of A ₂ BX ₄-group crystals. It is established that the domain structure affects the nonlinear polarization properties of our specimens. The dependence of the potential relief of ferroelectric ion motion in a harmonically changing electric field is plotted on the basis of the experimental results.