Magnetic memory effects in triglycine sulfate ferroelectric crystals

The effect of a magnetic field on the processes of relaxation of the defect structure relaxation in a triglycine sulfate (TGS) ferroelectric (nonmagnetic) crystal has been observed for the first time. The atomic-force microscopy study has shown that the application of a static weak magnetic field (2 T, 20 min) significantly changes the size distribution of defect nanoclusters characteristic of TGS. Previously known macroscopic aftereffects of the magnetic field in TGS (slow relaxation of the dielectric susceptibility, symmetrization of P–E dielectric hysteresis loops, etc.) can be explained by the redistribution of pinning centers of domain walls caused by the magnetically induced reconfiguration of the defect structure.