Abstract
Dielectric and optical fatigue effects in 8/65/35 lanthana modified lead zirconate-lead titanate (PLZT) ferroelectric ceramics have been observed in respense to 60 Hz sine wave switching. Erratic behavior in Ee is attributable to microcracking near the surface electrodes. In addition, after N ∼ 105 cycles, the remanent polarization, PR, decreases as the logarithm of N. The birefringence parameter decreases linearly with PR over the entire range of 102 << N << 108 cycles.