Sluggish Switching Process in the Triglycine Sulphate Crystal Exposed to the Transverse Electric Field

The measurements of a pyroelectric current generated by the TGS crystal previously exposed to the prolonged electric field E 3 parallel to the c-axis have been carried out. It has been found that the permanent transverse polarization P 3 ‖ c (i.e. perpendicular to the ferroelectric b-axis) appearing during the application of this field for the time interval Δ t can be expressed by the formula P 3 = P 3S [1-exp(-Δ t/τ)]. The saturation polarization level P 3S is at most only slightly dependent on the transverse field strength. On the other hand, the corresponding relaxation time τ markedly decreases as the field E 3 value is raised. A threshold transverse field of the order of 10 kV/m has been observed.