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Kinetics of phase transitions in modulated ferroelectrics: Time-resolved neutron diffraction from Rb2ZnCl4 |
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| Authors: | G Eckold M Hagen U Steigenberger |
| Institution: | 1. Institut für Physikalische Chemie, University of G?ttingen , Germany;2. Phone: +49-551-393142 E-mail: geckold@gwdg.de.;3. ISIS-Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Chilton, U.K.;4. Department of Physics , Keele University , Keele, U.K.;5. ISIS-Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Chilton, U.K. |
| Abstract: | The kinetics of the ferroelectric phase transition between modulated phases in Rb2ZnCl4 at about 190K has been investigated by time-resolved neutron scattering. Observing the time dependence of satellite spectra, it is found that the structural changes associated with the field-induced transformation proceed on a millisecond time scale. Under the influence of fast cycling strong electric fields unusual non-equilibrium states are obtained which are modulated in space as well as in time and characterised by the presence of internal mechanical strains. |
| Keywords: | Ferroelectricity Incommensurate structures Non-equilibrium phenomena Phase transitions |