Computer Simulation of Hysteresis Phenomena for Ferroelectric Switching Devices

Polarization switching and hysteresis phenomena in ferroelectric materials play a crucial role for operation of devices based on ferroelectricity. The paper deals with the numerical simulation of ferroelectric hysteresis phenomenon using the time-depended Landau-Khalatnikov equation modified in view of the Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire approach. The mathematical model is formalized by an initial-boundary value problem for a non-linear partial differential equation. A computational scheme based on a monotone and absolutely stable implicit finite difference method of the second-order accuracy combined with an iterative procedure is proposed. A series of computational experiments are conducted to demonstrate simulation results of polarization characteristics for ferroelectrics with the first order phase transition.