Effect of γ-irradiation on the pyroelectric and dielectric properties of transparent lanthanum-modified ferroelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate

Lanthanum-modified ferroelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate (LLZT) is now widely used as a working medium for preparing pyroelectric transducers and optical information processing devices (1-5). In addition, the existence of a strongly diffuse phase transition, extending up to room temperatures, makes the solid solutions LLZT unique models for physical study (2, 3,6). In this work the pyroelectric and dielectric characteristics of the ferroelectric ceramic LLZT were studied in a wide range of temperatures (from 288 to 483 K), and the effect of γ-radiation on its properties was studied. In all samples the zirconium-to-titanium ratio was equal to 65:35 and the lanthanum concentration was equal to 6, 8, and 10 at. %. The γ-irradiation dose was the same for all solid solutions LLZT, 3·109 rad