Polarization rotation theory for field-induced-phase transitions in BaTiO3 single crystal

TL;DR

This paper introduces a polarization rotation theory for BaTiO3 crystals to explain large piezoelectric effects, emphasizing anisotropic polarization rotations and field-induced phase transitions.

Contribution

It proposes a novel polarization rotation model incorporating electric field and anisotropy energies, advancing understanding of ferroelectric phase transitions.

Findings

Polarization can be rotated toward the electric field direction.

Field-induced phases with different symmetries are predicted.

The model explains polarization reversal and electromechanical effects.

Abstract

We have proposed the polarization rotation theory to understand the underlying physics of the large piezoelectric effect in ferroelectric crystals by referring to the coherent rotation model in ferromagnetism. When both the electric field energy and crystalline anisotropy energy are taken into account, the polarization in BaTiO3 crystal can be rotated toward the field direction. The numerical results have indicated the highly anisotropic polarization rotations and the field-induced-phases with different symmetries in the crystal. This theory is helpful for understanding the polarization reversal and the electromechanical effect in ferroelectric materials.