title: Visualization of ferroelectric domains with coherent light.
abstract: Illumination of a lithium niobate or lithium tantalate crystal along the crystallographic c axis with coherent light while simultaneously applying an external electrical field through transparent electrodes allows real-time, in situ, nondestructive monitoring of ferroelectric domain patterns. Imaging of the optical near-field through a lens directly visualizes the domain walls, whereas the far-field yields averaged information about the spatial orientation of the domain boundaries.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bonn, Wegelerstr. 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany. mamuelle@uos.de
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soergel
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buse