Magnetic field tuning of polaron losses in Fe doped BaTiO3 single crystals

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that applying a dc magnetic field can tune low-temperature dielectric losses in Fe-doped BaTiO3 single crystals, likely through interactions with hopping polarons, without affecting the material's permittivity.

Contribution

It reveals a novel magnetic field control of dielectric losses in ferroelectric single crystals via polaron interactions, distinct from interface effects.

Findings

Dielectric losses are tunable by magnetic field at low temperatures.

Hopping polarons interact with magnetic fields, affecting dielectric losses.

ESR spectroscopy confirms the role of Fe-related centers in this process.

Abstract

Artificial tuning of dielectric parameters can result from interface conductivity in polycrystalline materials. In ferroelectric single crystals, it was already shown that ferroelectric domain walls can be the source of such artificial coupling. We show here that low temperature dielectric losses can be tuned by a dc magnetic field. Since such losses were previously ascribed to polaron relaxation we suggest this results from the interaction of hopping polarons with the magnetic field. The fact that this losses alteration has no counterpart on the real part of the dielectric permittivity confirms that no interface is to be involved in this purely dynamical effect. The contribution of mobile charges hopping among Fe related centers was confirmed by ESR spectroscopy showing maximum intensity at ca T\sim40 K.