The field-enforced phase transition in 8.2/70/30 PLZT

The electrooptic behavior in thin sections of 8.2/70/30 PLZT, thickness varying from 8 to 40 μm, is characterized in terms of the field-enforced phase transition. From X-ray measurements, the field-enforced transition is shown to be from an, as yet, undetermined room-temperature (zero-field) structure to an orthorhombic phase which is isostructural with the orthorhombic phase of BaTiO3. The behavior of PLZT is then considered in the wider context of diffuse phase transitions. Evidence is presented suggesting that the anomalous behavior seen in this system is not unique to PLZT.