Electric field induced anomalies in ferroelectric K2SeO4

The lock-in transition of K2SeO4 at 93.2 K was studied using high-resolution. gamma-ray diffraction, in situ dielectric measurements and neutron scattering. The phase transition shows a coexistence regime of 1.0 K with clearly resolved incommensurate and commensurate satellite reflections. Within a temperature interval of several K above the lock-in transition, strong third order satellites are observed, indicating a pronounced squaring of the modulation wave. Under the influence of high electric fields an intermediate phase is observed, which is characterized by a diffuse intensity distribution. In addition, the dielectric permittivity exhibits two maxima, indicating the existence of two separate phase transitions. This behaviour is attributed to distortions of the discommensuration lattice and pinning of the discommensurations by accumulated charged defects. It seems to be characteristic for modulated ferroelectrics of the A(2)BX(4) group, since a similar behaviour is also found in isostructural Rb2ZnCl4 and K2ZnCl4. The soft-mode dynamics close to T-c is found to be essentially independent of the electric field and not affected by the discommensuration lattice.