Kinetics of phase transformations in real finite systems: Application to switching in ferroelectrics

Abstract

The modification of Kolmogorov–Avrami theory for real objects accounting for the finiteness of the transformed object/media is proposed. It takes into account the changing of the domain growth dimensionality (“geometrical catastrophe”) during the switching process. The validity of the proposed approach has been confirmed by model experiments and computer simulation. By this approach we have obtained the essential information about phase kinetics concealed in integrated experimental data. The method has been successfully used for the description of domain kinetics during the fast switching in ferroelectric single crystals and thin films. The scenario of domain evolution and voltage dependence of the main kinetic parameters have been discussed.