Detection of the critical end point in PbSc0.5Ta0.36Nb0.14O3 relaxor ferroelectrics crystals via acoustic emission

PbSc0.5Ta0.36Nb0.14O3 relaxor-ferroelectric crystals were studied by the means of dielectric and acoustic emission (AE) methods in the temperature range of 180-300 K. In zero dc electric field (E) no AE was detected at the smeared dielectric maximum T-m approximate to 260 K characteristic for canonical relaxor ferroelectrics. Under the E a phase transition appears at T-C = 217 K for E similar to 1 kV cm(-1). The T-C(E) dependence is linear with an anomaly point at E similar to 1.3 kV cm(-1), at which dT(C)/dE abruptly changes. At this E value the AE rate exhibits a maximum. The anomalous E point is assigned to be the critical end point for this solid solution.