Phase Front Near the Critical End Point as the Boundary of the Polar Nanoregions in Relaxor Ferroelectrics

The static modulation structure of the phase front at the field-induced first-order transition point near the critical end point (CEP) was discussed on the basis of the Landau-type free-energy function. It was confirmed that the field E dependence of the thickness of the phase front is proportional to ( E CEP - E ) -1/2 , diverging at CEP ( E = E CEP ). It is pointed out that, in relaxor ferroelectrics, the boundary between the polar nanoregion (PNR) and the paraelectric matrix may be considered as a phase front, and that the contribution to the dielectric response of the phase front cannot be ignored.