The Domain Kinetics in Congruent Lithium Niobate Modified by Low and High Energy Ion Irradiation

Abstract

Domain kinetics was studied during polarization reversal in congruent lithium niobate (CLN) single crystals irradiated by low energy Ar ions and high energy Br and F ions. The optical microscopy was used for in situ visualization of the domain structure evolution. In CLN irradiated by low energy ions the charged domain walls were formed in the fields below the threshold value. In fields above the threshold the jump-like walls motion was resulted in formation of the domain chains along the wall rest positions. The smooth motion of X-oriented domain walls was obtained in CLN irradiated by high energy ions.