Relaxation approach to quantum-mechanical modeling of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phase transitions

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Maity, Nikhilesh, Lisenkov, Sergey, Valdespino, Arlies, Haddad, Milan, Jones, Lewys, Kumar, Amit, Bassiri-Gharb, Nazanin, Ponomareva, Inna
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Maity, Nikhilesh
Lisenkov, Sergey
Valdespino, Arlies
Haddad, Milan
Jones, Lewys
Kumar, Amit
Bassiri-Gharb, Nazanin
Ponomareva, Inna
author_facet Maity, Nikhilesh
Lisenkov, Sergey
Valdespino, Arlies
Haddad, Milan
Jones, Lewys
Kumar, Amit
Bassiri-Gharb, Nazanin
Ponomareva, Inna
contents Ferroelectrics and antiferroelectrics are the electric counterparts of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. These materials undergo temperature- and electric-field-induced phase transitions that give rise to their characteristic hysteresis loops. Modeling such hysteresis loops and associated phase transitions enables both a deeper fundamental understanding and reliable property predictions for this important class of materials. To date, modeling has largely relied on classical approaches, often remaining qualitative and/or empirical. Traditional interpretation of these transitions rests on two assumptions: (i) they are activated Arrhenius-type processes and (ii) they occur well within the classical regime. Here, we demonstrate that a model can instead be built on two ''orthogonal`` assumptions: (i) the phase transitions are relaxational processes and (ii) they require a quantum mechanical treatment. Applying this model to both antiferroelectrics and ferroelectrics overcomes the limitations of traditional models and enables efficient first-principles simulations of phase transitions. Furthermore, the success of our unconventional approach highlights the significance of quantum mechanics in transitions long regarded as purely classical. We anticipate that this framework will be applicable to a broad range of phase transitions, including magnetic, elastic, multiferroic, and electronic, along with modeling of quantum tunneling, rates of chemical reactions, and others.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_10485
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Relaxation approach to quantum-mechanical modeling of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phase transitions
Maity, Nikhilesh
Lisenkov, Sergey
Valdespino, Arlies
Haddad, Milan
Jones, Lewys
Kumar, Amit
Bassiri-Gharb, Nazanin
Ponomareva, Inna
Materials Science
Ferroelectrics and antiferroelectrics are the electric counterparts of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. These materials undergo temperature- and electric-field-induced phase transitions that give rise to their characteristic hysteresis loops. Modeling such hysteresis loops and associated phase transitions enables both a deeper fundamental understanding and reliable property predictions for this important class of materials. To date, modeling has largely relied on classical approaches, often remaining qualitative and/or empirical. Traditional interpretation of these transitions rests on two assumptions: (i) they are activated Arrhenius-type processes and (ii) they occur well within the classical regime. Here, we demonstrate that a model can instead be built on two ''orthogonal`` assumptions: (i) the phase transitions are relaxational processes and (ii) they require a quantum mechanical treatment. Applying this model to both antiferroelectrics and ferroelectrics overcomes the limitations of traditional models and enables efficient first-principles simulations of phase transitions. Furthermore, the success of our unconventional approach highlights the significance of quantum mechanics in transitions long regarded as purely classical. We anticipate that this framework will be applicable to a broad range of phase transitions, including magnetic, elastic, multiferroic, and electronic, along with modeling of quantum tunneling, rates of chemical reactions, and others.
title Relaxation approach to quantum-mechanical modeling of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phase transitions
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.10485