Abstract
Some properties of dislocation-free and rare-earth modified Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 (SBN) ferroelectric crystals have been evaluated. The polarization of the dislocation-free SBN and some La-modified (<2 atomic %) SBN crystals can survive repeated thermal cycles close to their Curie temperatures without being thermally depoled. Interesting properties relevant to pyroelectric, surface acoustic wave and electro-optic devices are discussed.