On the appearance of an orthogonal component of the spontaneous polarization in linear pyroelectrics in the low-temperature region

The appearance of an orthogonal component of the spontaneous polarization i n the absence of signs of ferroelectricity does not violate the Curie-Neuma nn principle. These components are formed during the growth of a linear pyr oelectric and are inherent to it always, but their values are several order s of magnitude smaller than the spontaneous polarization along the preferre d polar axis. The low-temperature appearance of the components is due solel y to a feature of the mechanism of their pyroelectricity - disordering of t he charged structural units in asymmetric potential wells. (C) 2001 America n Institute of Physics.