Quasi-stable states of TGS ferroelectric induced by an electric field perpendicular to the ferroelectric axis

The remanent polarization decay in the course of time has been observed in TGS crystals placed in an electric field perpendicular to the ferroelectric axis. If this field is switched off at any stage of such an experiment, the present form of the hysteresis loop will remain unchanged. The samples with the reduced remanent polarization value of our choice can be produced in this manner. Such stable states of TGS may persist provided that the characteristic temperature T-n, is not exceeded. It has been also confirmed that a prolonged Sawyer-Tower driving field application leads to the restoration of the original dielectric properties. The origins of remanent polarization suppression have been also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.