Mesoscopic dielectrics

This paper describes four unsolved theoretical problems in ferroelectrics and related dielectrics with high permittivities: (1) finite size effects in thin films and small particles, and their relationship to depolarisation fields; (2) nucleation and growth kinetics, and especially the recently discovered coherent nucleation of small domains in front of advancing walls; (3) low-temperature quantum effects in ferroelectrics and the process of 'freeze-out', in which domain wall mobilities suddenly drop to zero; (4) self-patterning of nanoscale assemblies on the surfaces of substrates, and the consideration of lateral finite size effects. Copyright (1999) CSIRO Australia