Spatially resolved neutron diffraction as a function of crystal depth in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 reveals the presence of a distinct near-surface region. A dramatic change in both the lattice constant and the Bragg peak intensity as a function of crystal depth is observed to occur in this region over a length scale ∼ 100 μm. This confirms a previous assertion, based on a comparison between high-energy x-rays and neutrons, that such a near surface region exists in the relaxors. Consequences to both single crystal and powder diffraction measurements and previous bulk neutron diffraction measurements on large single crystals are discussed.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0407609,
title = {Direct observation of the near-surface layer in Pb(Mg$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_{3}$ using neutron diffraction},
author = {K. Conlon and H. Luo and D. Viehland and J. F. Li and T. Whan and J. H. Fox and C. Stock and G. Shirane},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0407609},
year = {2009}
}