Marble game with optimal ferroelectric switching

A low coercivity and, consequently, low hysteresis loss are desired properties for ferroelectric materials used in high-power and high-frequency actuators. The coercive field required for the onset of ferroelectric switching is shown to develop a strong directional anisotropy due to peculiarities of an energy surface associated with the polarization rotation. It is found that the ferroelectric anisotropy exhibits 'hard' and 'easy' switching …