Dynamic hysteresis in ferroelectric systems: experiment and Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract.

A Monte Carlo algorithm for dynamic hysteresis simulation in ferroelectric spin systems is developed based on a DIFFOUR model in which the local spontaneous polarization is defined by the double-well potential energy and the nearest-neighbor spin interaction as well as an external electrical field of variable amplitude and frequency. A direct measurement of the hysteresis loop for ferroelectric Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ thin film capacitors using the Sawyer–Tower technique is performed. Significant dependence of the hysteresis shape and pattern on the external field is revealed. Direct imaging of the simulated domain pattern indicates serious suppression of the domain switching over the high-frequency range. The evaluated scaling relations from the simulation for remanence, coercivity, and the area of the hysteresis over the low-frequency range are supported by theoretical predictions and experiments, but the high-frequency scaling behaviors as derived are different from one and another.