A new scattering mechanism of acoustic phonons in relaxor ferroelectrics: the case of KTa_{1-x}Nb_xO_3

TL;DR

This study reveals a new scattering mechanism of acoustic phonons in relaxor ferroelectrics, specifically KTa_{1-x}Nb_xO_3, involving localized modes in polar nano-domains, supported by experimental neutron scattering and theoretical modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scattering mechanism of TA phonons by localized modes in PNDs, supported by experimental data and a predictive theoretical model.

Findings

Identified a new scattering mechanism involving PNDs

Developed a theoretical model predicting TA damping behavior

Suggested high-frequency acoustic modes for nanocomposite analysis

Abstract

The complex interaction between transverse acoustic (TA) phonon, transverse optic (TO) phonon and polar nano-domains (PND) in the relaxor ferroelectric KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) is studied by means of high resolution diffuse and inelastic neutron scattering. The experimental results and a comparison with lead relaxors, suggest a new scattering mechanism of the TA phonon by localized modes in PNDs. A theoretical model is developed, which accurately predicts the evolution of the TA damping with temperature and wavevector. Such a mechanism suggests the possible use of high frequency acoustic modes for the study of nanocomposite materials.