Investigation of Periodic Domain Structures in Lithium Niobate Crystals

Abstract

Bulk periodic domain structures created in LiNbO ₃ crystal by the aftergrowth thermoelectrical treatment were studied by SEM and x-ray technique. Z and Y cuts, which have “tail-to-tail” and “head-to-head” domain walls, were comparatively investigated. In the SEM, a periodic domain contrast of the Z and Y cuts was studied and charge amount for equalization of the contrast was experimentally estimated. Special surface charging by an e-beam allowed the observation of domain contrast of highly distorted “tail-to-tail” domain walls. The SEM investigations were supported by x-ray results on crystal distortions near different domain walls.