Effect of electric field on the percolation phase transition in lead scandotantalate single crystals

The effect of a dc electric field on the phase transition process in lead scandotantalate single crystals differing in the degree of ion ordering has been studied by small-angle light scattering (SAS). The spontaneous phase transition occurring in these crystals is shown to be accompanied by a sharp SAS intensity peak indicating the percolation nature of this transition. A phase diagram in the field-temperature coordinates has been constructed for all the PST crystals studied in the work. The electric field and the temperature variation rate have been found to affect the SAS intensity.