Investigation of the Piezoelectric Effect in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 Crystals by X-Ray Diffraction

Abstract

The behavior of LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 crystals with domain structures in an external electric field was studied using high-resolution X-ray diffractometry and topography. Domain structures in Z-cut LiTaO3 and Y-cut LiNbO3 crystals have been formed by the aftergrowth thermoelectricall treatment technique were investigated. Strong elastic distortions near different domain boundaries in the Y-cut LiNbO3 crystal were detected. The possibility of using X-ray diffraction to measure piezoelectric charge constants tensor components is demonstrated.