Dipole glass and ferroelectricity in random-site electric dipole systems

• DOI: 10.1103/revmodphys.62.993
• Publication Date: 2002-09-05T15:41:01Z
• Authors: B. E. Vugmeister; M. D. Glinchuk
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

This review covers recent experimental and theoretical investigations into cooperative phenomena in crystals containing off-center ions. These have attracted much attention years because of a general interest disordered systems, particular spin glasses, whose electrical analog is the dipole glass. Specific features glass state alkali halide with ions are discussed compared glasses. Experimental studies performed demonstrated that highly polarizable can at certain concentrations induce ferroelectric domains regions macroscopic spontaneous polarization. The physical causes this phenomenon examined some properties exhibiting such an impurity-induced phase transition analyzed. Primary emphasis placed on range low impurity concentrations, where system differ substantially from predictions mean-field theory.