Electric field-temperature phase diagram of Zr0.98Sn0.02TiO4

Abstract

With the use of x-ray diffraction, we investigate the phase diagram of Zr0.98Sn0.02TiO4 as a function of temperature and de electric field. Accurate satellite position measurements confirm the existence of commensurate phases corresponding to the rational values 1/21 and 1/23 for the incommensurate deviation factor. These results are discussed qualitatively in terms of Landau's and Aubry's "devil's-staircase" approach. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.