RANDOM-FIELD INDUCED ANTIFERROMAGNETIC, FERROELECTRIC AND STRUCTURAL DOMAIN STATES

TLDR

Metastable or stable domain states on mesoscopic scales are widespread in solids undergoing phase transitions under quenched random fields. The study surveys experimental evidence of domain states across magnetic, ferroelectric, and structural systems, focusing on excess magnetization and relaxation in field‑cooled diluted uniaxial antiferromagnets. The authors compile and analyze experimental evidence of domain states in diverse magnetic, ferroelectric, and structural materials. Random distribution of B‑site cations creates the domain state in PbMg₁/₃Nb₂/₃O₃, while dipolar quenched impurities induce mesoscopic disorder in K₁₋ₓLiₓTaO₃ and Sr₁₋ₓCaₓTiO₃; quadrupolar domain states in KTa₁₋ₓNbₓO₃ arise from random strain fields due to ionic size mismatch, and similar random fields affect the critical behavior of DyAsₓV₁₋ₓO₄ and roughen ferroelastic twin domain walls.

Abstract

The occurrence of metastable or stable domain states on mesoscopic length scales seems to be a widespread property of many solids undergoing phase transitions in the presence of quenched random fields. A survey is given on the experimental evidence of domain states in various magnetic, ferroelectric and structural systems. In particular we discuss phenomena like the excess magnetization of field-cooled diluted uniaxial antiferromagnets and its relaxation. The domain state of the relaxor ferroelectric PbM g1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3 is due to the random distribution of B site cations, whereas dipolar quenched impurities give rise to mesoscopic disorder in K 1− x Li x TaO 3 and Sr 1− x Ca x TiO 3 . Spontaneously relaxing quadrupolar domain states are observed in KTa 1− x Nb x O 3 . They are probably caused by random strain fields due to ionic size mismatch. The same type of random fields determines the critical behavior of the Jahn-Teller compound DyAs x V 1− x O 4 but merely causes roughening of the natural ferroeleastic twin domain walls.