Electric Field Induced Phase Transition in KDP Crystal Near Curie Point: Raman and X-ray Scattering Studies

X-ray scattering measurements are performed in order to verify that the mechanism leading to the DC electric field induced C 2v → C 6=19 2v phase transition in KDP crystal at 119 K is the changing of the local sites symmetries of phosphate group from C2 in the C 19 2v phase to Cs in the C 6=19 2v phase. It is shown by analyzing the integrated intensity of the (800) and (080) reflections that under DC electric field the density of oxygen atoms lying on these plane changes indicating that phosphate group rotates around the [010] direction relative to the orthorhombic C 2v structure. Some Raman results are also discussed. Permanent address: Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Ceará e-mail: [email protected] Permanent address: Universidade de Braśılia, Braśılia-DF, Brazil