Phase ranges, ferroelectric devices

The compositions of most dielectric materials used for ceramic capacitors are based on ferroelectric barium titanate. As discussed in detail in Pragraph 1.3 the permittivity of ferroelectric perovskites shows marked changes with temperature, particularly close to the phase transition. From the device point of view a high dielectric permittivity with stable properties over a wide temperature range is required. There are various specifications which have to be fulfilled (e.g. X7R AC/C(T = 25°C) < 0.15 in a range between -55°C and 125°C). 

In contrast, the nonlinearities in bulk materials are due to the response of electrons not associated with individual sites, as it occurs in metals or semiconductors. In these materials, the nonlinear response is caused by effects of band structure or other mechanisms that are determined by the electronic response of the bulk medium. The first nonlinear materials that were applied successfully in the fabrication of passive and active photonic devices were in fact ferroelectric inorganic crystals, such as the potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal or the lithium niobate (LiNbO,) [20-22]. In the present, potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal is broadly used as a laser frequency doubler, while the lithium niobate is the main material for optical electrooptic modulators that operate in the near-infrared spectral range. Another ferroelectric inorganic crystal, barium titanate (BaTiOj), is currently used in phase-conjugation applications [23]. 

The switching memory effect is a reflection of the fact that the electric displacement, being the function of both the applied field and the material s properties, needs some finite time to adjust to the value of the electric field. The widely accepted model of the instantaneous relationship between the electric displacement and the electric field in the NLC is invalid when the characteristic times of the director dynamics are close to the relaxation times for molecular permanent dipoles. This time scale is typically in the submillisecond range which is of great interest for modem fast-switching devices. The electric displacement (as well as the dielectric torque density) becomes a function of the static dielectric properties of the NLC, the present and past electric field, and the present and past director. We discussed the recently proposed theory and experimental verification of the phenomenon [11]. The model in Ref [11] should be applicable to dynamic reorientation of other LC phases in the appropriate range of times/frequencies. In the case of ferroelectric LCs, the theory should be supplemented by the consideration of spontaneous electric polarization. A similar approach should be also... 

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