Observation of a low-temperature acoustic anomaly in lanthanum lead zirconate titanate

Abstract

High-resolution Brillouin scattering experiments have been performed to investigate the low temperature "aging" effect in lanthanum lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics. From the temperature dependence of the frequency shift of longitudinal acoustic mode, an acoustic anomaly was observed at T0~46 K in these ceramics with clear "aging" effect below T0. The results have been discussed in the light of stepwise freezing of the related degrees of freedom causing transition from proper to improper dipole glassy states at T0. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.