Polarization reversal and domain kinetics in PMN-30PT single crystals

Polarization reversal process has been studied in [001]-cut lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate single crystals with 30% lead titanate by in situ visualization of domain kinetics and switching current analysis. It has been shown by high-resolution methods that the sample poling leads to partial decay of as-grown domain structure and decrease of the domain width down to 200 nm. Analysis of the switching current by modified Kolmogorov-Avrami approach has shown that the field dependence of the characteristic time follows activation law with activation field value 1040±50 V/mm. In situ visualization has allowed revealing the main stages of domain structure evolution.