FAST STAGE OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NONEQUILIBRIUM SOLITON STRUCTURE OF A DIELECTRIC

The evolution of a soliton structure after it has been abruptly driven into a state far from equilibrium is initially an accelerated process . The acceleration is greater, the greater the initial departure from equilibrium. Closer to equilibrium, deceleration causes the fast proce ss to give way to a slow, thermal-activation process, as is characteri stic of inhomogeneous systems. Distinctive features of the fast stage of the evolution and of its effect on the subsequent stages are identi fied. Experiments have been carried out by a dielectric method in the particular case of an Rb2ZnCl4, crystal, which is a ferroelectric with an incommensurate phase.