We investigate the dielectric response in the glass-electret state of two dipolar glass-forming materials. This unusual polar glassy state of matter is produced when a dipolar liquid is supercooled under the influence of a high electric dc field, which leads to partial orientational order of the molecules carrying a dipole moment. Investigation of the prepared glass electrets by using low-field dielectric spectroscopy reveals a clear modification of their dielectric response in the regime of the Johari-Goldstein β relaxation, pointing to a small but significant increase of its relaxation strength compared to the normal glass. We discuss the implications of this finding for the still controversial microscopic interpretation of the Johari-Goldstein relaxation, an inherent property of glassy matter.

• Received 28 August 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.3.112601