Crossover from glassy to inhomogeneous-ferroelectric nonlinear dielectric response in relaxor ferroelectrics

The temperature dependence of the dielectric nonlinearities in a PMN single crystal and in 9/65/35 PLZT ceramics has been determined by measuring the first and third harmonic response as well as the dielectric behavior as a function of the dc electric field. In zero field a paraelectric-to-glass, and, in a high enough dc field, a glass-to-ferroelectriclike crossover in the temperature dependence of the nonlinear response have been observed. Both crossovers agree with the predictions of the spherical random-bond-random-field model. Relaxors thus undergo in zero field a transition to a spherical glass, while above the critical field a transition into a ferroelectric state occurs.