Dynamics of the main dielectric anomaly in Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 (NBT) was studied
by time-domain THz and microwave spectroscopy, using also previously published
data and their new overall fits. Above the dielectric maximum temperature Tm ~
600 K, the response consists of coupled sub-THz oscillator and a relaxation
mode, assigned to strongly anharmonic Bi-ion vibrations and hopping, whose
slowing down explains the paraelectric-like permittivity increase to Tm. Below
Tm, the main relaxation continues slowing down and additional relaxation,
assigned to quasi-Debye losses, appears in the 10^11 Hz range. The oscillator
hardens on cooling and takes over the whole oscillator strength. The
permittivity decrease below Tm is caused by the reduced strength of the
relaxations due to dominance of the rhombohedral phase within the coexistence
region with the tetragonal phase. The anharmonic dynamics of Bi is supported by
previous structural studies. NBT represents a hybrid between standard and
relaxor ferroelectric behaviour
