Ferroelectric Switching Time of BaTiO3 Crystals at High Voltages

The ferroelectric switching time of two BaTiO3 single crystals has been measured at voltages up to 1300 v across the crystals' thicknesses, 0.108 and 0.076 mm. The switching time, ts, can be represented approximately as ts=kV−32 from V equals 100 v to 1300 v applied. The shortest switching time, 7.0×10−9 sec, was less than half the time taken by a dilatational wave front to traverse the crystal's thickness, 14.9×10−9 sec. The results imply that ferroelectric switching in this voltage range does not involve the movement of elastic waves from one side of the crystal to the other.