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Abstract The internal bias field which is observed in many ferroelectric materials is explained semiquantita-tively. Dipolar defects in the ferroelectric cause div P # O at the defect sites. The electric fields diverging at these sites tend to orient the dipoles to energetically favourable orientations. The free energy is modified by this effect in a similar way as by an electric field. The transient relaxation of the dipoles to the new equilibrium is treated and describes well the observed time behaviour of the internal bias.
Arlt et al. (1988) studied this question.