Analysis of the switching process in triglycine sulphate crystals based on the Avrami model

By analysing switching current data i ( t ), produced by the reversal of domains, it was possible to extract detailed information concerning the behaviour of the switching kinetics in TGS crystals. The switching curves were fitted to a three-parameter nucleation and growth model based on Avrami statistical theory. By direct observation of the domain pattern during slow polarization reversal, by means of nematic liquid crystals, it was possible to verify the assumptions of the theory for crystal samples with both a spatially uniform and non-uniform distribution of domain nuclei.