Theory of Antiferroelectric Crystals

An antiferroelectric state is defined as one in which lines of ions in the crystal are spontaneously polarized, but with neighboring lines polarized in antiparallel directions. In simple cubic lattices the antiferroelectric state is likely to be more stable than the ferroelectric state. The dielectric constant above and below the antiferroelectric curie point is investigated for both first- and second-order transitions. In either case the dielectric constant need not be very high; but if the transition is second order, is continuous across the Curie point. The antiferroelectric state will not be piezoelectric. The thermal anomaly near the Curie point will be of the same nature and magnitude as in ferroelectrics. A susceptibility variation of the form C (T+) as found in strontium titanate is not indicative of antiferroelectricity, unlike the corresponding situation in antiferromagnetism.