Direct-writing of inverted domains in lithium niobate using a continuous wave ultra violet laser.
The inversion of ferroelectric domains in lithium niobate by a scanning focused ultra-violet laser beam (lambda = 244 nm) is demonstrated. The resulting domain patterns are interrogated using piezoresponse force microscopy and by chemical etching in hydrofluoric acid. Direct ultra-violet laser poling was observed in un-doped congruent, iron doped congruent and titanium in-diffused congruent lithium niobate single crystals. A model is proposed to explain the mechanism of domain inversion.
Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Hants, S017 1BJ, UK. acm@orc.soton.ac.uk
A C
AC
Muir
C L
CL
Sones
S
S
Mailis
R W
RW
Eason
T
T
Jungk
A
A
Hoffman
E
E
Soergel