Phase transitions induced in NaNbO3 crystals by varying the direction of an external electric field

The anisotropic behavior of the electrostatic field characterizing the phase transition from an antiferroelectric state to a ferroelectric state is studied for the first time with NaNbO3 as an example. Structural changes taking place in the crystal as the direction of the electrostatic field is varied are studied and electrostatic field magnitude-direction phase diagrams are determined.