Ultraviolet laser-induced sub-micron periodic domain formation in congruent undoped lithium niobate crystals

Abstract

We report the formation of ordered sub-micron periodic surface domains on the -z face of congruent undoped lithium niobate single crystals induced by pulsed ultraviolet laser illumination of the sample faces under specific irradiation conditions. We demonstrate the utility of this simple light-induced technique for achieving periodic domain inversion and investigate the nature and spatial structure of these nano-domains by scanning force microscopy. We also demonstrate subsequent re-inversion of a small region of these light-induced nano-domains using scanning force microscopy.