Different models for the polar nanodomain structure of PZN and other relaxor ferroelectrics

Computer simulations have been carried out to test the recently proposed model for the nanodomain structure of relaxor ferroelectrics such as lead zinc niobate (PZN). The present results confirm that and as well as the previously proposed types of Pb displacement are viable possibilities, but the number of domain boundaries required to produce sufficiently strong diffuse rods of scattering means that individual domains cannot be described as three-dimensional and must still be considered to be relatively thin plates.