Light deflection from ferroelectric domain boundaries

摘要

A new deflection phenomenon of light has been discovered in ferroelectric crystals that provides information about domain structures, their nucleation, and their dynamics: Illumination of a multi-domain crystal with a single light beam yields light patterns, if external electrical fields are applied. Deflection angles of up to +/-8degrees are observed. We attribute this effect to light deflection from the boundaries of the domains. Besides providing a new method to study domains of any ferroelectric material, the method can be of practical importance for electro-optic beam scanning. [References: 17]