2.1. Justification of the Relevance and Scientific and Practical Significance of the Chosen Research Area
The applied scientific and technical significance of CIMBs class crystals relates to a wide range of modern industry sectors [
1,
2,
3,
4,
5], including industrial electrical engineering and high-voltage technology (insulating materials; electrically adjustable capacitors) [
1,
6], microelectronics (MIS, MSM structures; quantum field-effect transistors; resonant tunnel diodes) [
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13], radio engineering, radio electronics and microwave technologies (radar, communication technologies and systems, microwave detection of the properties of various working media, shells and housings of structures of radar, energy, cryogenic and space installations and systems (solid reflective surfaces of receiving and location devices; high-temperature dense and super-dense (non-ideal) plasma in technological circuits of thermonuclear reactors, etc.)) [
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28,
29,
30,
31,
32], non-linear optics (non-linear receivers and converters of coherent electromagnetic waves in the optical range) and laser technology (regulators of laser radiation parameters based on ferroelectric crystals) [
33,
34,
35,
36,
37,
38,
39,
40,
41,
42,
43,
44,
45,
46,
47,
48,
49,
50,
51,
52], electrochemical technologies and alternative energy technologies [
53,
54,
55,
56] (in the development of solid-state fuel cells based on proton semiconductors and conductors with high proton conductivity) etc. Of greatest applied practical interest are materials operating under extreme conditions of ultra-low and ultra-high temperatures, strong and super-strong electric and magnetic fields, intense laser radiation, mechanical stress, and deformation [
1,
5,
6].
The application of numerical optimization methods to the results of theory and experiment from a comparison of the experimental and theoretical graphs of the measured macroscopic quantity (polarization; density of thermally stimulated polarization current (TSPC) and depolarization current (TSDC); real and imaginary components of the complex dielectric permittivity (CDP)), allows to calculate a set of theoretical values of molecular parameters for each type of relaxers (the most mobile charge carriers), activated in the vicinity of the corresponding temperatures or frequencies of the alternating electric field maxima on the basic experimental graph [
2,
3,
4,
5,
57,
58,
59,
60,
61,
62].
Presently, theoretical achievements in the field of electrophysics of CIMBs class materials are nonlinear physical and mathematical models of ion-relaxation polarization and conductivity, based on a nonlinear quasi-classical kinetic equation written in the form of the equation of balance of the number of particles (relaxers) in potential wells of a spatially inhomogeneous one-dimensional crystalline potential field perturbed by a polarizing electric field [
1,
2,
3,
4,
5]. The solution of this equation is carried out in conjunction with the Poisson equation, taking into account the boundary and initial conditions arising from the experimental conditions for a given electrode model [
57,
58,
59]. The results of this method, as applied to the descriptions of the temperature spectra of TSDC density and the frequency-temperature spectra of dielectric losses, are consistent with the experimental data in the entire experimental range of temperatures (50–450 K) and external electric field strengths (0.1–1 MV/m) [
2,
3,
4,
5].
Consideration of the influence of quantum transitions of massive (in comparison with protons) ions on dielectric relaxation in CIMBs does not have any special physical meaning, since, due to the small De Broglie wavelengths and small transparencies of the potential barrier for heavy ions (sulfate anions, phosphate anions, carbonate anions in crystal hydrates; silicate anions in natural minerals of the layered silicate class), formal consideration in the kinetic coefficients of the statistically averaged over energy levels (continuous spectrum) quantum permeability (depending on temperature in a certain way), from a physical point of view, has practically no effect on the parameters of the TSDC density spectra J
and
[
2,
5].
Hydrogen-bonded crystals (HBCs), a subclass of CIMBs, are characterized by the presence in the crystal structure of a hydrogen sublattice consisting of hydrogen ions (protons) interacting through electrostatic forces (hydrogen bonds) with ions of the anionic sublattice and water molecules (structural and adsorbed). The activation energies of protons in hydrogen bonds are distributed, according to experimental data, depending on the level of chemical complexity of the bond (on the type of ion with which the proton is bound), in the range of
0.01–1 eV, and the equilibrium concentration of the most mobile charge carriers (protons) in HBC, depending on the temperature range T
K, is approximately
[
58,
60]. Under this conditions, polarization in HBC, in the radio wave range (3 kHz–300 MHz) and microwave range (3 GHz–300 GHz), in the region of weak fields
is determined by the diffusion-relaxation movement of protons along hydrogen bonds in the direction of the lines of force of the external electric field (proton conductivity) [
59,
61]. The set of polarization processes associated with the relaxation motion of protons in HBC can be defined as
proton-relaxation polarization. The natural frequencies of vibrations of protons on hydrogen bonds in HBC are approximately
. The width of the potential barrier for protons in HBC takes numerical values of
. Transitions of protons along hydrogen bond lines can be carried out, taking into account the parameters of the structure, both due to thermal activation (classical transitions) and by quantum tunneling (quantum transitions) [
62,
63].
The equations of the quasi-classical nonlinear model of ion-relaxation polarization in CIMBs, as applied to the studies of proton-relaxation polarization in hydrogen-bonded crystals (HBC), are adapted at the mathematical level to the influence of proton tunneling on dielectric relaxation. In this case, high transparencies of the potential barrier for protons (0.001–0.1) significantly affect the numerical values of the kinetic coefficients [
60]. At the same time, the numerical calculation indicates the determining influence of the parameters of the potential barrier (activation energy (potential barrier height)
and barrier width
on the temperature position and amplitude of the statistically averaged over energy levels (continuous spectrum) quantum permeability (calculated in [
61] for the model of a one-dimensional parabolic potential barrier perturbed by a stationary polarizing field) by the WKB method
The highest calculated values of this function are achieved at
0.01–0.1 eV,
and the proton oscillation frequency
in the temperature range T
K and are equal to
0.01–0.2 [
62], respectively. These regularities are confirmed by studies of low-temperature theoretical maxima in temperature spectra
(see figures 10–13 in [
5]) and frequency spectra
(see figures 6 and 8 in [
5]). The authors of [
1,
4,
5] have unambiguously confirmed, both experimentally and theoretically, the dominant role of proton tunneling in the low temperature range (50–100 K), as well as a certain (not the main, but quite significant against the background of thermal activation) role of proton tunneling in the high temperature range (150–550 K) in HBC. In [
2,
3,
4,
5], the determining role of quantum effects in the region of anomalously high polarization nonlinearities in HBC, extending to the ranges of ultra-low (1–10 K) and ultra-high (550–1550 K) temperatures, was theoretically substantiated using various quantum-mechanical approximations. The transition to more rigorous, in comparison with the WKB method, direct quantum-mechanical calculations (based on the model of the discrete energy spectrum of protons), in estimating the values
confirms the above established quantum effects.
Currently, it is expedient and scientifically sound to move on to detailed theoretical studies of the effects of quantum tunneling of protons on thermally stimulated polarization and depolarization in HBC in a wide theoretical range of temperatures (1–1550 K) and fields (0.1–1000 MV/m) [
1,
57,
58,
59,
60,
62].
Algorithms for theoretical studies of the temperature spectra of the density of thermally stimulated polarization currents (TSPC) and depolarization currents (TSDC), as in the case of frequency-temperature spectra of the dielectric loss tangent
, should be based on the methods of nonlinear quasi-classical [
1,
2,
3,
5] and quantum [
1,
4] kinetic theories of dielectric relaxation in crystals with ionic-molecular chemical bonds (CIMBs), exhibiting the properties of ionic dielectrics with a layered crystalline structure (ceramics; natural minerals; perovskites; crystal hydrates, etc.). The nonlinear quasi-classical kinetic theory of dielectric relaxation [
2,
5] works successfully, both in formal mathematical and physical terms, in describing the mechanisms of ion-relaxation polarization and conductivity in almost all CIMB class crystals in a wide theoretical range of field parameters (0.1–1000 MV/m) and temperatures (1–550 K). Polarization nonlinearities, within the framework of the quasi-classical kinetic theory [
2,
5], unfold when compared with the experiment in the field of nonlinear space-charge polarization (450–550 K), and in theoretical terms they extend to a much wider range of temperatures, up to 1550 K in the region of strong fields (10–1000 MV/m). The nonlinear quantum theory of dielectric relaxation [
4], in physical terms, is successfully applied, first of all, to hydrogen-bonded crystals (HBC), which exhibit, in the low temperature region (50–100 K), the effects of nonlinear quantum relaxation caused by the tunneling motion of hydrogen ions (protons) in the space of the anion sublattice of HBC [
1,
4]. Experimentally established quantum polarization nonlinearities in HBC manifest at low temperatures (50–100 K) with a sample thickness of 1000–10,000 nm, and theoretically extend to the region of ultra-low temperatures (4–25 K) with a sample thickness of 1–10 nm and are characterized by anomalously high polarization currents (3–4 orders of magnitude higher than at T = 50–100 K and d = 1000–10,000 nm). With this type of size effects, the low-temperature theoretical maximum
shifts from the region of nitrogen to the region of helium temperatures with a decrease in the amplitude of the maximum by 3–4 orders of magnitude, which is accompanied by an increase in the ferroelectric properties of proton semiconductors [
1,
4].
In [
3], the studies of the influence of quantum tunneling of protons on the theoretical TSDC temperature spectra were carried out within the framework of the quasi-classical kinetic theory [
1], taking into account high-order polarization nonlinearities in the field, but for a model of the crystal potential in the form of a one-dimensional double symmetric potential well [
3]. Moreover, the methods [
3] led to satisfactory agreement between the experimental results and theory when calculating the characteristic parameters of relaxers in a wide temperature range (50–550 K). However, the methods of [
3], even from the point of view of the nonlinear quasi-classical kinetic theory [
2,
5], are insufficient for a detailed analysis of the effects of ion tunneling (primarily protons in HBC) on the nonlinear properties of TSDC spectra, in particular on the electret effect, since in [
3], in contrast to [
2,
5], a multi-well (closer to the real crystal structure than a double-well) model of the crystalline potential field for conduction ions moving by relaxation (reciprocating, due to ion transitions between adjacent potential wells, against the background of their thermal motion) in a crystalline potential field perturbed by an external electric field was not used. Additionally, with a rigorous theoretical approach, the methods developed in [
2,
5], which are consistent when comparing theory with experiment for spectra
are insufficiently rigorous for the study of the temperature spectra of thermally stimulated polarization and depolarization currents in CIMBs, since in [
5] polarization harmonics multiples of the field powers higher than the first (r > 1) were not taken into account. The analytical apparatus, built on recurrence formulas for complex amplitudes of relaxation modes of the space-charge density in a dielectric, was investigated in [
2], in a generalized sense, for arbitrary orders of perturbation theory k with an arbitrary multiplicity of frequency harmonics of polarization r. At the same time, in [
5], when calculating theoretical spectra
using the methods of [
2], only the first frequency harmonic of polarization (
r = 1) was used. Although it was calculated in the infinite approximation of perturbation theory (at k = 1, 2, 3, etc., to infinity), it is insufficient for a rigorous analysis of nonlinearities in the phenomena of thermally stimulated polarization and depolarization, characterized by a higher resolution or sensitivity of the system to temperature than the spectra
. Thus, in a rigorous theoretical study of quantum nonlinearities in the TSPC and TSDC spectra in alternating current, at the level of quasi-classical kinetic theory [
2], it is necessary, in continuation of [
5], to construct formulas for the polarization of the crystal, with an accuracy of up to an arbitrary order in frequency harmonics of the space-charge distribution (r > 1), which corresponds, in the radio frequency range, to nonlinear electrophysical effects such as secondary harmonic polarization generation (SHPG) and self-generation of high-order polarization. This approach will form the basis of the calculation schemes for calculating the polarization of a dielectric in this article. When calculating the kinetic coefficients in this article, as in [
2], the model of the crystal potential in the format of a one-dimensional multi-well symmetric potential field [
5] will be used. Potential barriers are assumed to be parabolic [
2,
3,
4,
5]. In the general case, the barrier can take an arbitrary shape, including rectangular [
1]. In this sense, the parabolic potential barrier is closest in its properties to the real crystalline structure of a dielectric [
2,
3,
4,
5].
In view of the specificity of the mathematical apparatus of the quantum kinetic theory of dielectric relaxation, direct quantum mechanical studies of the theoretical spectra of TSPC and TSDC, using the density matrix apparatus by analogy with the methods of [
4], will be carried out in subsequent works.
The mathematical expressions obtained in this article, will be extended to materials of a wider class, primarily to CIMBs, without limiting the generality of the results.
2.2. Theoretical Bases of Physical and Mathematical Models of Relaxation Polarization in Solid Dielectrics
In modern fundamental physical science, the question of the applied, scientific, and technical significance of the results of the research direction developed in a certain area of research is of great importance. At the same time, the aspects of the applied scientific concept and the strategy for its development are determined both by the specifics of a given scientific direction and by its relevance to the practical needs of a modern scientific and technical industry (or group of industries).
The state of condensed matter physics, covering a wide range of different materials and methods in the field of solid state physics and physics of dielectrics and semiconductors, is characterized by colossal achievements in the issues of condensed matter theory in the format of classical and quantum theories of various directions (in particular, the theory of quantum liquids, such as helium-II at ultra-low temperatures; the theory of quantum macroscopic phenomena, in particular, the superfluidity of liquid helium (2.19 K), low-temperature superconductivity in metals (4–25 K)), including the quasi-classical [
1,
2,
5,
57,
59] and quantum [
1,
4,
5,
60,
61,
62] kinetic theories of dielectric relaxation and conductivity in solid dielectrics, which are of practical importance for the physics of dielectrics and its practical applications, such as industrial electrical engineering (capacitor technology (electrically controlled capacitor devices); insulation and cable technology; high voltage technology); electric power engineering (insulating surfaces of current-carrying lines; electric generators and their auxiliary equipment in industrial power plants); radio engineering and radio physics (electronically controlled radio frequency systems (3 kHz–300 MHz) and microwave technologies and devices (3–300 GHz), in particular, generators and converters of microwave coherent waves (3–300 THz) [
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28,
29,
30,
31,
32]) for radio communication systems, television communications, radar and microwave diagnostics of the state of materials in extreme technological conditions (microwave diagnostics of plasma in thermonuclear reactors and auxiliary nuclear fusion installations); electrochemical technologies (solid-state fuel cells based on transition metal oxides (TMO), perovskites, high-temperature ionic superconductors [40–58] in [
5]); optoelectronics (fiber optic elements of sensors for deformation parameters of construction and building materials [18–26] in [
5]); nonlinear optics and laser technology (laser control elements [27–39] in [
5], laser radiation parameter controllers (KDP, DKDP ([79–92] in [
5])) based on nonlinear optical materials that exhibit nonlinear optical effects when interacting with intense coherent electromagnetic waves (3000 THz) of the optical range nonlinear absorption of light; generation of multiple frequency harmonics; photoelectric effect; combination scattering of light); microelectronics and quantum electronics (MIS, MSM-elements, necessary for the development of quantum superconducting nonlinear elements such as resonant and tunnel diodes ([9–17] in [
5])); space technologies and cryogenic equipment (functional elements for panels of local photovoltaic devices for space stations; photoconverters of electrical energy based on dielectrics with high ionic conductivity and proton semiconductors with ultra-high proton conductivity in the region of ultra-low (helium) temperatures).
The quasi-classical nonlinear kinetic theory of dielectric relaxation in HBC [
2,
5], at the level of coefficients (formulas (5)–(10) in [
5]) of the nonlinear generalized kinetic equation (formulas (16) and (17) in [
5]), considers the influence of proton tunnel transitions (inside the hydrogen sublattice during the interaction of protons with ions of the anion sublattice) on the mechanism of proton-relaxation polarization and conductivity in proton semiconductors and dielectrics (PSD) in the low-temperature region (50–100 K), against the background of low values of proton activation energies (0.01–0.1 eV), when the transparency values of the potential barrier for protons are sufficiently large (0.001–0.1) [
3,
4], which, under the conditions of a crystalline structure (in a solid), is quite significant for such heavy (in comparison with electrons) particles as protons. The quasi-classical nonlinear model [
5] allows, at the theoretical level (formulas (150), (120), (121) and (122) in [
5]), to detect and analyze the behavior of low-temperature maxima (50–100 K) in the spectra
in HBC (see figures 10–13 in [
5]), which presently cannot be achieved experimentally for a number of technical reasons [
1]. Additionally, in [
5], theoretical frequency spectra
,
, were investigated at constant temperatures in HBC (see figures 6–9 in [
5]).
The use of direct quantum-mechanical calculations allows, using the apparatus of the density matrix, to take into account the influence of the configuration of the discrete energy spectrum of relaxers (protons) on the properties and parameters of low-temperature spectra
in HBC (see graphs 6,
in figures 1 and 2 in [
4], constructed using the quantum-mechanical expression (27) from [
4]). Furthermore, in [
4], the size effects associated with anomalous shifts of low-temperature maxima
from the region of nitrogen (50–100 K) to the region of helium (4–25 K) temperatures were investigated, with a decrease in the amplitude of the theoretical maximum from
to
with the decrease in the thickness of the dielectric from 30,000 nm to 3 nm (see tables 3 and 4 in [
4]).
Similarly, in [
1], taking into account the quasi-discrete structure of the energy spectrum of protons in HBC, in the region of ultra-low temperatures (1–10 K), in nanosized crystalline structures (1–10 m) of HBC, leads to anomalously high numerical values of the transparency of the potential barrier in the range of 0.5–0.9. The tangent of the dielectric loss angle, according to the results in [
1], decreases in amplitude by 3–4 orders of magnitude in comparison with the low-temperature region. This effect, which manifests in anomalously large values of the real component of the dielectric constant of crystals (2.5–5.5 million) in the region of helium temperatures (4–25 K), can be defined as a low-temperature quasi-ferroelectric effect in HBC.
From numerical studies of quasi-classical nonlinear models of thermally stimulated depolarization in HBC in the high-temperature region (150–550 K), the quantum transparencies of the potential barrier for protons are also large (0.01–0.1), and high-temperature nonlinear space-charge polarization in HBC is largely determined by quantum tunnel transitions of protons. Thus, quantum effects in HBC play a significant role in the formation of proton-relaxation polarization in a wide temperature range (1–1550 K) [
2,
3].
Based on the comparative analysis of the influence of quantum effects on theoretical spectra
[
4,
5] performed in this
Section 2.1, it can be argued that it is necessary to expand the methods of quasi-classical and quantum theories of dielectric relaxation for studying the properties and parameters of theoretical spectra of thermally stimulated depolarization currents in HBC, including the study of the transformations of the TSDC density spectra caused by size effects due to tunneling (with abnormally high transparency) movement of hydrogen ions (protons) in the temperature range (4–25 K), which is most scientifically and practically significant for cryogenic technology and the physics and technology of low-temperature superconductivity.
The physical and mathematical models constructed in this way could be extended to a wide class of crystals with ionic-molecular chemical bonds (CIMB) and their composites.
As noted in the introduction, the analytical apparatus of the models developed in this article will be based on the methods of the nonlinear quasi-classical kinetic theory of dielectric relaxation [
2,
5] in an arbitrary approximation by the multiplicity of frequency harmonics of polarization above the first (r > 1), in combination with the methods of statistical physics and electrodynamics of continuous media, with elements of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (necessary to reflect, at the mathematical level, the influence of quantum effects on the nonlinear properties of proton migration processes in HBC [
2,
5]).
In the general case, the physical and mathematical model of nonlinear relaxation processes during thermally stimulated depolarization in CIMBs should consist of two sequentially implemented parts. In the first part of the model, the dielectric relaxation during polarization of a crystal in a constant (stationary) external electric field at a given polarization temperature is investigated, and in the second part, a study of the kinetics of thermally stimulated depolarization (in the absence of an external field) is performed in a sample rapidly cooled to liquid nitrogen temperatures (in the classical experimental scheme [
1,
3]), and in the general case to liquid helium temperatures (in theoretical schemes [
2,
5]) and heated according to a certain time law T = f(t), in the simplest case, linear. Of significant theoretical interest is the study, in the first part of the general model, of the kinetics of nonlinear thermally stimulated polarization in an alternating external electric field, with a subsequent transition, in the second stage of the modeled solutions, to the study of depolarization according to the scheme described above (in the absence of an external voltage source). This approach would allow, at a sufficiently high theoretical level, to demonstrate the influence of polarization nonlinearities of various natures (quantum-mechanical; space-charge; associated with size effects, etc.) in the process of preparing the sample for depolarization, to establish the influence of quantum tunneling [
1,
3] and interactions of relaxation modes of the volume-charge on the mechanism of thermally stimulated polarization currents (TSPC) and, subsequently, on thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC).
Due to the complexity of the equations and calculation formulas of the general nonlinear physical and mathematical model of thermally stimulated polarization and depolarization, the methodological apparatus of this article will be simplified when setting research objectives, with the expectation of implementing the general scheme of theoretical research in subsequent works. At this stage of research, such simplifications are technically necessary and, as will be shown below, are entirely justified from a methodological point of view. In this regard, firstly, we take all polarization processes as isothermal (the polarization temperature is taken as a constant value in this model) and, secondly, we will consider kinetic phenomena only for polarization processes (in an alternating field), and we will not describe depolarization (in the absence of an external electric field) in this article and will defer this procedure to subsequent works. The polarization process is similar in this regard and represents a separate problem, the solution of which will be described in the future.
The methodology of this work will be based on the study of the nonlinear phenomenological system of Fokker–Planck and Poisson equations for a given model of electrodes [
5]. The crystal temperature is assumed to be constant in the zero approximation for the polarizing field in the model under study. At the initial moment of time, polarization is absent. The solutions of this system of equations are constructed in a quasi-classical model with an accuracy of up to multiples of an arbitrary order in the frequency of the field
of space-charge distributions frequency harmonics for the most mobile ions across the thickness of the crystal
.
The space-charge distribution for relaxers (conduction ions)
, calculated in the k-th approximation of perturbation theory (by a small dimensionless parameter
< 1) at a frequency harmonic of multiplicity r to the fundamental frequency of the alternating field
is determined using a Fourier series expansion in spatial harmonics
on the interval 0
, according to the formula
, where
is the complex amplitude of the space-charge distribution
. This model uses dimensionless spatial variable
and time
t. Here
is the lattice constant (in the crystal structure of the simulated dielectric);
is the probability rate of transition (flip) of a relaxer (conduction ion) between adjacent potential wells in a crystal potential field, calculated in the approximation
l = 0 from the dimensionless parameter
, at a crystal temperature T [
2,
5]. In this expression, q is the charge of the relaxer. In the work [
5], generalized nonlinear formulas are constructed for calculating the function
in an arbitrary approximation
l from a dimensionless parameter
with coefficients
. The electric field strength in a dielectric calculated in the general case from the solution of the Poisson equation [
5] and has the form
=
, where
is the strength of the alternating in time external electric field, and
is the strength of the induced field excited by the external electric field during polarization of the crystal. The induced field in the quasi-classical model [
2,
5] is taken to be a spatially inhomogeneous non-stationary function varying weakly (adiabatic) along the x coordinate in the region of an arbitrary potential well in the crystalline potential field perturbed by the field
. In the special case
=
, with blocking electrodes at the crystal boundaries, the boundary condition
is satisfied, where
d is the amplitude of the EMF,
,
is the amplitude value and cyclic frequency of the polarizing field strength, d is the thickness of the crystal.
In continuation of the work [
5], in which the polarization of the crystal was calculated at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field (r = 1), in this work the study of the polarization of the dielectric will be constructed using the same methods of the nonlinear quasi-classical model [
2,
5], but in an arbitrary approximation of the multiplicity r by the frequency of the external polarizing field
, and the current polarization density
corresponding to the partial harmonic of multiplicity r, upon transition of the dimensionless variable
t, is equal to
.
The calculation of the space-charge distribution in the crystal at the fundamental (r = 1) frequency of the alternating field results in the expression [
5]
Here, the parameters
,
,
,
=
,
,
,
are used [
5].
is the probability rate of transfer of a conductivity ion between adjacent potential wells, calculated in the l-th approximation from the dimensionless parameter
[
5]. Additionally, the high-frequency (in the optical frequency range) dielectric constant of the crystal
was used. The theorem
was applied during transformations [
2]. Relaxation times
, where
is the diffusion relaxation time,
is the zero component of the diffusion relaxation time by the spatial harmonic number (n = 0),
is the Maxwell relaxation time [
2,
5], corresponds to the n-th relaxation mode of the space-charge distribution (in this case, at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field
)
with a complex amplitude
expanded into an infinite power series in components corresponding to the k-th approximation of perturbation theory in a small dimensionless parameter
[
2]. An arbitrary k-th component of the complex amplitude
is calculated using the recurrence formula
. Based on the component of order k = 1 of perturbation theory
and summing the elements
by number k from 1 to infinity, we obtain the resulting expression
which corresponds to the generalized complex amplitude
The dimensionless quasi-classical parameter of the kinetic theory of dielectric relaxation is a small parameter of perturbation theory, complementary to .
Using the power series
the generalized formula for the polarization of a dielectric at the fundamental frequency of an alternating field
can be rewritten in a compact form
, from which we have
Thus, the generalized (calculated in the infinite approximation of perturbation theory by a small parameter of perturbation theory
, at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field) polarization of the crystal is a function based on the first approximation of perturbation theory at the same fundamental frequency of the field
where
—the basic component of polarization calculated in the first approximation of perturbation theory. Here
.
It is evident, that a power series of successive approximations is performed
Thus, it is obvious
where, respectively, the degree
of the additional small parameter of the model
is the ratio
Accordingly .
Everything fits together.
In the general case, the study of polarization at the fundamental (r = 1) frequency of the alternating field leads to the function [
5]
The quasi-classical relaxation coefficients are complex functions of temperature
=
=
− i
, investigated in [
2,
5].
Let us apply the complex coefficient of relaxation polarization
=
=
, also calculated at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field. Simultaneously
The density of the relaxation polarization current, established at the first (fundamental) frequency harmonic of the external electric field, is calculated from the expression
Based on the equality
, let us rewrite the generalized formula for the relaxation polarization current density at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field in the dielectric
in a compact form
, from where we have
Here, the equalities
are used.
Accordingly with the equality
an infinite power series of successive approximations is fulfilled
where
Distinguishing the real and imaginary components of the relaxation polarization current density
we have
The following formulas are convenient for comparison with the experiment
The formulas obtained, which correspond to relaxation polarization currents, cannot be considered complete from the point of view of a strict comprehensive assessment of the parameters and mechanisms of currents excited in a dielectric with a complex crystalline structure, in particular, in dielectrics with ionic-molecular chemical bonds (mica; ceramics; crystal hydrates; vermiculites, etc.). In addition to
relaxation-polarization processes, which are realized due to relaxation (reciprocating) transitions of the main charge carriers in a crystalline potential field perturbed by an external electric field, with an average relaxation time
s,
induction polarization processes occur in the crystal, which are realized due to almost instantaneous transitions of the main charge carriers on elements of the crystal structure such as atoms, molecules, ions, dipoles, etc., when an external electric field is turned on, with an average relaxation time of
s. In the general case, for polarization processes in a harmonically changing over time external (polarizing) electric field
, the electrostatic induction in a dielectric is
[
1,
2], where
is the value of inductive polarization (occurring in the high-frequency range (in the optical frequency region), and characterized by permeability
) [
1,
3],
is
—the magnitude of relaxation polarization occurring in a dielectric in an alternating electric field, in the radio frequency and microwave range, and characterized, according to the nonlinear quasi-classical kinetic theory, at the fundamental frequency of the field [
2,
5], by the permittivity
[
2,
5]. Then, the value of the total polarization current density in a dielectric is
. Therefore, we have
From where we get
The following formulas are convenient for comparison with the experiment
Based on (3c,d) let us write the dispersion relations
Averaging in the left parts of relations (3e–h) is performed over the period of the electric field fluctuations .
An important consequence of the analytical relations for the components of the total polarization current density (3e–h) are the following equalities
2.4. Nonlinear Quasi-Classical Model of Isothermal Relaxation Polarization in Ionic Dielectrics in a Non-Stationary Electric Field
The structure and properties of the nonlinear kinetic equation of the phenomenological Fokker–Planck model [
2,
5] and the solution schemes of this equation are determined by the influence of the parameters (amplitude and frequency) of the alternating polarizing field, the characteristic parameters of relaxers and the temperature on the small parameter
of the perturbation theory.
In
Section 2.2, the basic principles of the physical model of relaxation polarization in dielectrics with a complex crystal lattice structure, including CIMBs and, in particular, HBC crystals, were described. There, two main stages of the implementation of the research schemes are identified, including the first stage, which amounts to isothermal polarization at temperature
in an alternating electric field
, and the second stage, which amounts to thermal polarization in an alternating electric field
.
A variant of this scheme, which is closer to the conditions of a real experiment, assumes, at the first stage, the same isothermal polarization at temperature in a non-stationary electric field , and, at the second stage, thermally stimulated depolarization, when the external electric field is switched off completely and is not switched on again , , and the sample is rapidly cooled to a temperature near the temperature of liquid nitrogen and begins to heat up according to a linear law (thermally stimulated depolarization).
Within the framework of the methodology and structure of this scientific article, we will investigate only the first stage of the measuring circuit, namely, isothermal polarization in a non-stationary field, and the study of thermal polarization and, in particular, thermally stimulated depolarization, will be deferred to subsequent publications.
At the first stage of the research of the measuring circuit for the mathematical model of isothermal polarization in an alternating field
, the formal form of the system of nonlinear equations of the phenomenological model (57)–(61) from [
5], including the quasi-classical kinetic equation in the form of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation (57) and the associated Poisson Equation (58) and the initial and boundary conditions (59)–(61) to (57) and (58) from [
5], is completely preserved and the solutions of equations (57) and (58) from [
5] must be rewritten taking into account the kinetic coefficients calculated at temperature
,
, Where
,
. Taking dimensionless variables
,
and dimensionless field
, let us rewrite (57)–(61) from [
5] in the form
In the general case, solutions of Equations (6) and (7) are constructed by expanding into infinite series in powers of the polarization dimensionless small parameter
in the form
In the k-th approximation of perturbation theory, the solution of Equations (6) and (7) on the interval
is constructed using Fourier series
The complex amplitudes of functions (12) and (13) are calculated from the solution of the operator equation (69) from [
5], according to the recurrent expression (70) from [
5], rewritten in the notations corresponding to the process of isothermal polarization (in the notations from
Section 2.2)
Here .
In [
2,
5] similar (14) complex amplitudes
were calculated according to the recurrent expression (70) from [
5], in the asymptotic approximation, in the stationary polarization mode (under the condition
), which is established upon transition to the limit
in the final expression for the function
. This limit expression is constructed in [
5] and has the form of a recurrent formula (73). This mathematical approach, from the point of view of the physical content of polarization processes, is justified in the study of dielectric loss mechanisms, when the ultimate goal of analytical studies is the construction of theoretical spectra of complex dielectric permittivity (CDP). These spectra, at the fundamental frequency of the alternating field
, are calculated, as noted in
Section 2.1, based on the formula for the polarization of the crystal
and take the form
=
. When studying the kinetics of dielectric losses, it is unnecessary to continuously (throughout the entire time of studying the process itself, comparable to the polarization time) analyze the transient processes excited in the dielectric due to the action of an external electric field
and, further, developed under the influence of the electric field
induced in the dielectric during the interaction of the external field with the substance. In the equations of the mathematical model, when studying the CDP spectra, it is sufficient to move to a time far from the transient processes (when the observation time of the process is much longer than the relaxation time
), which is reflected in the properties of the asymptotic function
, represented by formula (73) from [
5].
Studies of the recurrent expression (13) for processes associated with polarization currents (as well as with depolarization currents) must be carried out from the point of view of a detailed study of the kinetics of the polarization process over a period of time comparable to the relaxation time (under the condition
). In this case, the study of the dependencies for the complex amplitudes
of relaxation modes (the n-th number in the k-th approximation of perturbation theory for a small dimensionless parameter
) must be carried out in a continuous mode, from the point of view of a detailed analysis of the relaxation mechanism of the space-charge distribution
over a time comparable to the polarization time. The study of complex amplitudes
is performed for the most mobile charge carriers (in the general case, ions) moving in a dielectric (in the space between the electrodes) in an alternating polarizing field
. Mathematical modeling of the distribution of the space-charge density across the thickness of the crystal, within the framework of the quasi-classical kinetic theory [
2,
5], is carried out as a function of the spatial variable
and time
in a
nonlinear approximation in the field
using perturbation theory methods, by expansions into infinite power series in a small parameter
according to expressions (10) and (11).
In (13), the component of the dimensionless field of the k-th order is generated by the space-charge distribution of the corresponding order , formed under the action of the field of the previous k-1-th order . The process of polarization of a dielectric in the zero approximation (k = 0) is described by a system of equations , , , from which follows the expression for the “zero” dimensionless field , corresponding to the strength of the external field .
In subsequent approximations of perturbation theory
, integration of the equation
taking into account the boundary condition
, gives a recurrent expression for the k-th component of the function
, in the form
In the first approximation (k = 1) from (14), noting that
taking into account
, we have
Based on
in view of (16), we obtain a previously
linear solution by a small parameter
of the Fokker–Planck equation for the
isothermal polarization process
Substituting (16) into (13), along with (17) into (15), yields a linear by a small parameter
component of the dimensionless field
In the approximation k = 2, from (14)
substituting (17) and (18) into (19), applying the expression
we ultimately have
Based on
, in view of (20), we obtain a
quadratic solution of the Fokker–Planck equation by a small parameter
Substituting (20) into (13), as well as (21) into (15), yields a quadratic component of the dimensionless field by a small parameter
In the approximation k = 3, from (14) we have
The result of calculating the third-order complex amplitude of perturbation theory (k = 3), constructed on the basis of (23), together with (17), (18), (21) and (22), is presented in the format of a transition function of time
in the form of
expression (S1) in Section S1.
The calculation of the space-charge density for relaxers (ions) in the third approximation k = 3 of perturbation theory is based on (12) in the form
and, due to
(S1), in the form
(S2), is a cubic solution by a small parameter
of the Fokker–Planck equation (Equation (6) in this article; (57) in [
5]).
Further calculations of the components of perturbation theory for the space-charge density in the approximations are rather cumbersome transformations (in comparison with those previously performed in the approximations k = 1, 2, 3). A detailed presentation of these calculation schemes, even for the case k = 4, does not seem appropriate within the framework of the main part of this work due to their cumbersomeness.
Thus, in the approximation k = 4, from (14)
The final expression for the complex amplitude in the fourth approximation of perturbation theory (k = 4)
is constructed in
Section S2, based on (24), taking into account
(S2),
(S3), (21), (22), (17) and (18) and is formulated as a function of time
(S4), containing eight terms on the right-hand side, each of which contains a time part that is a multiple of the corresponding field frequency
, 2
, 3
, 4
.
The calculation of the space-charge density for relaxers in the k = 4 approximation of perturbation theory is based on (12) in the form
and, by virtue of
(S4), is a fourth-order solution of the Fokker–Planck equation by a small parameter
((57) from [
5]).
It is obvious that knowledge of the space-time function
and expressions (17), (21) and
(S2) reveals the possibility of calculating the
isothermal polarization current density
, with an accuracy of up to the fourth term of perturbation theory by a small parameter
when solving the Fokker–Planck equation ((57) from [
5])
The component of the k-th approximation of perturbation theory by a small parameter
for the relaxation polarization current density
is calculated by virtue of the expression
for the k-th component of polarization, taking into account
, by the formula
The recurrent expression (25) must be investigated in combination with Formula (14) for complex amplitudes of the space-charge distribution of various orders k of perturbation theory by a small parameter
(12) in the form
. Moreover, in
Section 2.3 rigorous formulas for the first four approximations by a small parameter
in the form of expressions (17) for k = 1, (20) for k = 2,
(S1) for k = 3 and
(S4) in the case of k = 4 were constructed.
For transitioning to the studies of the components of the polarization current density by Formula (25) for values of k = 5 and higher, a more compact recurrent expression than (14) is necessary, allowing, in a continuous time mode (for process times comparable to relaxation times), to express a function
of arbitrary order k through similar functions of all orders preceding the given one, starting from k = 1 to k − 1. For this purpose, the analytical expression (71) constructed in [
5], in which the embedded complex amplitudes are calculated for time intervals comparable to
is convenient. Then
It evident that Formula (20) can be obtained on the basis of (26) for k = 2, using the result of (16). Similarly, according to (26), for k = 3, using (16) and (20), it is easy to obtain
(S1), and for k = 4, using (16), (20) and
(S1), respectively,
(S4). In this regard, from the point of view of the effectiveness of analytical research and the application of relaxation functions
in the study of polarization processes in a dielectric, expression (26) is more rational than (14). Although, the general methodological role of Formula (14) is retained, since this expression, for different values of the parameter k, forms a clear representation of the connections of different orders of perturbation theory when studying the complex amplitudes of relaxation modes for k = 1, 2, 3, 4. At higher orders, when k > 4, Formula (26) is significantly more convenient.
The analytical advantages of the recurrent expression (26), compared to (14), are even more obvious when studying the formulas of the element for the relaxation polarization current density in the format (25). Thus, when calculating the terms on the right-hand side of (26), for the first element
we have
for the second element
we get
and, further, for the third element
we get
For the relaxation polarization current density, in the approximation k of perturbation theory by a small parameter
, at frequencies of an alternating field of multiplicity r = (1, 2, 3), in the right-hand side of (25), at process times close to the relaxation time
, but after some transformations, we have, respectively,
In (27), the following notations are used
Noting that = 0 from (27b) we obtain the identity . In a similar way, we obtain recurrent identities , for = 1, 2, 3, …, which indicate that the polarization current density, at frequency harmonics of even multiplicity to the fundamental frequency of the field , is equal to zero.
In (27a–c) the relaxation time corresponding to the relaxation mode of number s is determined from the expressions constructed in [
2,
5], in combination with formulas (4) and (5) in the form
Similar calculations are performed for the expression .
For a more accurate calculation of the relaxation polarization current density in a given approximation k of perturbation theory, it is necessary to substitute the complete expressions for the complex amplitudes calculated from (14) and (26), into (25).
It is easy to see that substituting the function
и from (16) into (25) for k = 1 results in
Next, substituting the second-order perturbation theory function
from (19) into (25) for k = 2 results in
Due to
= 0 the second term on the right-hand side of (29) is equal to zero. At the same time, Пpи этoм, the first term in the formula for the polarization current density at k = 2, associated with the first power of the polarizing field, respectively, a multiple of the fundamental frequency harmonic
, is equal to
To determine the component of the polarization current density in the third approximation of perturbation theory, it is necessary to substitute the function
from
(S1) into the recurrent Formula (25), with k = 3. Due to the cumbersomeness of the final expression for the desired function
, the result is placed in
Section S3 (see
Expression (S5)). After some auxiliary transformations,
Formula (S5) takes a form convenient for numerical calculations and comparison of the results of theoretical and experimental studies. Thus, we obtain
In this case, the first and second terms in Formula (31) for the polarization current density at k = 3, associated respectively with the first and third power of the polarizing field, are calculated from components with coefficients , that are multiples of the first two frequency harmonics of the alternating electric field
To determine the component of the polarization current density in the fourth approximation of perturbation theory, it is necessary to substitute the function
from
(S4) into the recurrent Formula (25), with k = 4. Due to the cumbersomeness of the final expression for the desired function
, the result is placed in
Section S4 (see
Expression (S7)).
After some auxiliary transformations,
Formula (S7) takes a simplified form convenient for numerical calculations and comparison of the results of theoretical and experimental studies (see
Expression (S8)). In this case, in the right part of the
Formula (S8) there are five terms, the first of which, with a coefficient
is a multiple of the first odd frequency harmonic
, and the other four components, with the corresponding coefficients
,
,
,
, are multiples of the second odd frequency harmonic
of the alternating electric field.
The value of the polarization current density calculated with an accuracy of up to the fourth order (k = 1, 2, 3, 4) by the power of the small dimensionless parameter
of perturbation theory is constructed on the basis of the general expression
, taking into account the formulas for individual components, calculated, respectively, for k = 1 (expression (28)), k = 2 (expression (30)), k = 3 (expression (31)) and k = 4 (
expression (S8)).
Due to the fact that all terms in expressions (28), (30), (31) and
(S8) contain an element of the form
, the lines described by these formulas can be considered relaxation in a time interval of the order of the relaxation time of the process
.
Let us make a transition in the element to the dimensional relaxation time . Here, the expression for the n-th spatial relaxation mode of the space-charge distribution can be applied. The inverse diffusion relaxation time for the n-th spatial relaxation mode has the form . The dimensional inverse Maxwell relaxation time has the form .
Let us move on to the study of the polarization current density in the stationary mode. Taking the limiting condition
, in expression (28), we obtain an asymptotic approximation characterizing the stationary polarization mode
From this .
In the limit, from (30), (31) and
(S8) we have
Accordingly, we obtain the expansion of the asymptotic expression for the polarization current density with an accuracy of up to the fourth order (k = 1, 2, 3, 4) of the perturbation theory by a small parameter
by the asymptotics of the current density components that are multiples of the frequency harmonics of the first and second orders
To study expansions of the type (36) of higher orders by a small parameter
, starting with k = 5, etc., it is necessary to calculate the components of the corresponding orders
using the recurrent Formula (25) in combination with (14) and (26). Due to the cumbersomeness of the mathematical operations in this area, at this stage of the research, we will move on to the analysis of asymptotic expressions
, taking in Formulas (25) and (26) to the formal limit
, corresponding to the stationary polarization mode (far from transient processes), when the approximation
is fulfilled. In this case, against the background of asymptotic limit expressions for complex amplitudes of the space-charge distribution in the approximation k by a small parameter of perturbation theory
, when they are expanded into components of even
and odd
multiplicity in the frequency of the alternating field
, when the limit equality
is satisfied, only asymptotic components that are odd-order multiples
of the frequency of the alternating field
are preserved
In a similar way, we obtain recurrent identities , for = 1, 2, 3 …, which indicate that the components of the polarization current density that are multiples of even orders in the fundamental frequency of the field , are equal to zero.
Thus, when studying the kinetics of both isothermal and thermally stimulated polarization of a dielectric in an alternating field, the calculation of time-asymptotic expressions for complex amplitudes of the space-charge density in the k-th approximation by a small parameter by transitioning to the limit expressions (37) is of significant interest, from an applied point of view.
From (13), taking into account (37), we have
Based on (10)–(12)
taking
we construct a time-asymptotic expression for the total complex amplitude of the space-charge density
To calculate the partial complex amplitudes
, included in the total complex amplitude of the k-th approximation
and, accordingly, the total complex amplitude
, it is necessary to construct a recurrent expression for the functions
, which is satisfied in the k-th approximation by a small parameter
and in the
r approximation in the field frequency
. For this purpose, we will first analyze, using Formula (26), the previously obtained partial expressions for the components
,
,
,
, defined by Formulas (16), (20),
(S1) and
(S4).
For k = 1, based on (37), (16) we have
For k = 2, applying (37), (20) we write
For k = 3, applying (37) and
(S1) we write
For k = 4, based on (37) and
(S4), accordingly
Based on (26) and special cases (16), (20),
(S1) and
(S3), the property of the asymptotic approximation for the function
is obvious, which states
Thus, the calculation of the asymptotic values of the current density for the first four approximations (k = 1, 2, 3, 4) of function (25), using (42)–(45), in combination with (46), confirms expressions (32)–(34) completely and expression (35) partially. The result obtained can be considered to be one of the criteria of reliability of the methodological apparatus developed in this article. In this case, asymptotic Formulas (32)–(35) are limit expressions of the form
In (47) the asymptotic expressions (37) are used.
The regularities established in expressions (32)–(35) and (42)–(45) confirm the feasibility of constructing a generalized expression (47) in combination with an asymptotic expression in the form (37) for the recurrent Formula (26). Next, using practical experience in calculating complex amplitudes (15), (18), (21) and (24) and their asymptotic approximations (42)–(45), we will move on to develop an analytical scheme for obtaining recurrent formulas for functions
,
in arbitrary approximations by parameters k,
r. To do this, we transform the recurrent in parameter k (the order of perturbation theory when solving the system of Equations (6) and (7)) expression (26), taking into account (37)
In the stationary polarization mode, taking into account the limiting condition
in (26), by virtue of the equalities
In the general case, in a given approximation of perturbation theory k, recurrent expressions (47)–(49) are used together in numerical studies of the density of relaxation polarization currents. Additional transformations of these equalities and the application of a number of model assumptions (simplification of the initial formulas; transition to limit formulas in a certain range of variation of the model parameters, etc.) are applied depending on the properties of the function at the frequency of the alternating field in a given temperature range.
Based on (49), performing, for r = 1, 2, 3, transformations in accordance with the scheme described in [
2,
5], we write down recurrent formulas for
partial complex amplitudes
. With
r = 1, we have
With
r = 2, we write
where
.
It is convenient to reduce parameter
to the form
We will also present the parameter
in expanded form
In (52), it is indicated .
We will conduct studies of the influence of subsequent approximations of k > 4 perturbation theory by a small parameter
on the structure and properties of partial complex amplitudes
with values of order
r > 4 in field frequency on the basis of an approximate recurrent formula, which is satisfied under the condition of smallness of the dimensionless parameter
, and follows from the analysis of Formula (51) in approximations of order k = 2 and k > 2 and expression (52) for parameter values k = 3 and k > 3, using the method of mathematical induction, having prepared rigorous formulas for
,
,
,…,
constructed on the basis of (51), and formulas for
,
,
,…,
. constructed on the basis of (52). Then
where the parameter
is introduced, satisfying a number of properties (1)
; (2)
,
,
; (3)
. In the general case, the complex parameters
, for cases r = 1, 2, 3 are equal to, respectively
Based on (40) and (34), with
r = 4, we have
Here
where given the parameter
Then, assuming
and restricting ourselves to the coefficient
, we construct an approximate recurrent expression of order
r = 4,
It is obvious that (53) is a logical complement to the series of expressions (50)–(52), although it gives only an approximate value of partial complex amplitudes .
It is easy to see that expressions (50)–(53) are in complete agreement with (42)–(45), which can be defined as one of the reliability criteria of the generalized stationary recurrent expression (53), which allows us to strictly calculate partial complex amplitudes for any values of k, r.
The studies conducted in
Section 2 of this article lead to the conclusion and physical justification of asymptotic expressions for
polarization complex amplitudes
, which are complex amplitudes that change harmonically over time at a space-charge density
distributed over the thickness of the dielectric in the stationary polarization mode
, when relaxation processes have virtually no effect on the amplitude of the
steady state polarization current density (47).
The most informative, from a physical point of view and in terms of applying the results of theory to experiment (in the development of schemes for the theoretical analysis of the structural features and properties of crystals with ionic-molecular chemical bonds), research method is the method based on the measurement and calculation of the spectra of
thermally stimulated polarization currents in a wide range of field parameters (0.1–1 MV/m) and temperatures (50–550 K). The theoretical ranges of external impact parameters are significantly wider than the available experimental ranges and are, from 10 MV/m to 1000 MV/m for the amplitude of the external electric field and from 1 K to 1500 K for the temperature. Studies of the kinetics of ion-relaxation (primarily proton-relaxation) polarization in IMBCs class crystals (in particular, in HBC) in the temperature range near T = 0 K have not yet been conducted, due to the rather complex, in physical nature, and not fully investigated, at the theoretical level, mechanism of quantum electrophysical phenomena in these crystals [
3,
5]. It has been preliminarily established that quantum kinetic phenomena in nanometer layers (1–10 nm) of proton semiconductors and dielectrics (PSD) in the range of helium temperatures (4–25 K) lead to abnormally high amplitudes of the density of the thermally stimulated depolarization current (3–4 orders of magnitude higher than in the range of nitrogen temperatures (50–100 K) with a micrometer sample thickness) [
1]. These polarization effects are nonlinear, quantum (caused by the ultra-high values of quantum transparency (0.85–0.95) of the potential barrier for hydrogen ions (protons) in PSD) and are associated with the quantum-mechanical interaction of the proton (formed by fairly mobile protons that do not interact with each other) and phonon (associated with the vibrations of heavy, low-mobility, in comparison with protons, ions and ionic groups) subsystems in PSD (for example, in HBC) [
3]. It is difficult to directly interpret nonlinear quantum polarization effects in PSD as quantum macroscopic effects similar to the effects of superconductivity in metals (for electron and phonon subsystems; Cooper pairs, etc.), due to the fact that the Hamiltonian of the proton-phonon interaction and the contribution of this operator to the density matrix for an ensemble of conduction protons and to the general statistical matrix of the simulated crystal have not been fully and comprehensively (by comparing the quasi-classical and strict quantum models) studied at the theoretical level, within the framework of the quantum-mechanical approximations we are developing for proton conductivity and relaxation in HBC [
1,
3,
5].
Thus, at this stage of research, we can consider both quasi-classical (built on the solution of the Fokker–Planck Equation (6) in combination with the Poisson Equation (7)) and quantum-mechanical (built on the solution of the Liouville equation, together with the Poisson operator equation) [
1,
3] models of isothermal quantum nonlinear polarization and depolarization, including thermally stimulated quantum polarization and depolarization, for the temperature range T = 1–1500 K, taking field parameters from 0.1 MV/m to 1000 MV/m.
In this article, we operate with the apparatus of the quasi-classical nonlinear kinetic theory of ion-relaxation polarization [
1,
5], with elements of the quantum theory of ion relaxation and conductivity, limiting ourselves to the quasi-classical formula for the transparency of a parabolic one-dimensional potential barrier [
4,
5] in the coefficients of the kinetic Equation (6).
The strict quantum-mechanical approach, based on the calculation of the density of polarization and depolarization currents, using the apparatus of the density matrix and the apparatus of nonlinear quantum kinetic theory, will be deferred for the future and carried out within the framework of a separate work.
The main subject of the quasi-classical kinetic theory of ion relaxation in solid dielectrics is the development and study of an analytical apparatus for calculating complex amplitudes for an arbitrary value of the parameter k and their asymptotic approximations for arbitrary values of the parameters k, r. In essence, the solution to this problem has already been accomplished in Formulas (50)–(52) and approximated in Formulas (53) and (55), etc. The further problem is reduced to adapting these expressions to Formula (47) for the polarization current density. The problem of calculating the density of depolarization currents (isothermal; thermally stimulated) will be solved in a similar way, with the difference in the format of the time dependences in the recurrent expressions (48) and (49), calculated from the solutions of the Fokker–Planck (6) and Poisson (7) equations, taking into account the initial conditions corresponding to the depolarization process. In this case, the initial expressions (14) and (26) for depolarization processes will change.
The scheme for measuring thermally stimulated depolarization currents developed by Bucci and Riva [
1,
4] is reduced, at the first stage, to isothermal (at a constant temperature
) polarization of the investigated sample in a uniform non-stationary electric field
and the resulting spatially inhomogeneous electric field inside the dielectric
is calculated taking into account the internal field
induced by the polarizing field
, satisfies the condition
for the total field in a dielectric
. Amplitude of alternating EMF
where d is the thickness of the crystal. At the second stage of measurements (when describing thermally stimulated depolarization), the external field is switched off
,
, the dielectric is rapidly cooled to low temperatures (50–80 K), is connected to an electrometer (or quality meter) and begins to heat up according to a linear law
. The electric field inside the dielectric during depolarization
satisfies the short circuit condition
.
Thus, the field frequency and the amplitude of the EMF source are excluded from the set of variable external parameters of the mathematical model of thermally stimulated depolarization.
The solution of the problem of isothermal polarization, in the limit, will allow us to construct initial conditions for the complex amplitudes of the relaxation modes of the space-charge during depolarization. In this case, based on (48):
For k = 1, r = 1, from (50) we have
For k = 2, r = (1, 2), from (50) and (51) we have
For k = 3, r = (1, 2, 3), from (50)–(52) we have
For k = 4, r = (1, 2, 3, 4), from (50)–(52) and (55) we have
Thus, based on the results of additional calculations, Formulas (56)–(59) are, taking into account their explanatory formulas designated by the symbols a, b, c, d, completely consistent with Formulas (42)–(45) and their explanatory formulas designated by the additional symbols a, b, c, d. At the same time, both groups of asymptotic formulas for the components of the complex amplitudes
of the relaxation modes of the space-charge
, at the values of the orders k = (1, 2, 3, 4), r = (1, 2, 3, 4), induced during the polarization of the dielectric, are consistent with Formulas (32)–(35) for the asymptotic expressions for the components of the polarization current density
,
,
,
. These comprehensively verified expressions are, in view of their complete consistency, absolutely correct from a mathematical point of view and represent special cases of solutions and consequences of solutions of a quasi-classical nonlinear kinetic equation in the format of the Fokker–Planck Equation (6), solved together with the Poisson Equation (7) in the first four approximations k = (1, 2, 3, 4) of perturbation theory by a small dimensionless parameter (having the meaning of a comparison parameter for this model of polarization processes)
. When moving to higher orders of perturbation theory by the parameter
, in the asymptotic formulas for the components of complex amplitudes
, stationary terms (summands)
accumulate in increasingly higher orders in the index r. The same terms, except with odd r, are accumulated in the asymptotic formulas for the components of the polarization current density
It is easy to see that Formula (60) works in conjunction with (49), and the agreement at the first four orders of perturbation theory allows us to assert the reliability of the results of calculations performed using the recurrent Formula (53) substituted into (60).
In conclusion of
Section 2, let us focus on the issue of the matrix representation of stationary (in this case, asymptotic) expressions for the complex amplitudes of the space-charge
and the polarization current density
, the most visual, in comparison with the algebraic, representation. For this purpose, we represent the
total stationary complex amplitude of the n-th relaxation mode
as an operator equivalent to a column vector
Multiplying the operator (61) by a column vector, matrix elements of which are the corresponding powers k of the small parameter
yields the expression.
Modeling operator (61) taking into account (36)
where
,
by multiplying
by a column vector
The function is introduced in (65)
Thus, the action of the operator
on the operator of the complete stationary (asymptotic) total amplitude of the n-th relaxation mode
transforms it into algebraic sums
allowing to calculate the space-charge distributions studied in the experiment, defined in the form of harmonic series (10) and (12)