Observation of an exotic lattice structure in the transparent K Ta 1 − x Nb x O 3 perovskite supercrystal

We perform redundant x-ray diffraction versus temperature experiments in bulk transparent KTN. We find a violation of the standard perovskite cubic-to-tetragonal symmetry breaking at the Curie point in the form of an orthorhombic cell distortion. The lattice distortion spans coherently macroscopic volumes of the sample and is characterized by a negative-to-zero thermal volume expansion. Dielectric measurements and calorimetry indicate that the anomalous behavior is not associated to a distinct thermodynamic phase. The comparison of linear and nonlinear optical scattering experiments with structural data suggests that the lattice distortion is a consequence of strain relaxation to a 3D superlattice of polarization vortices.