Dimensionality increase of ferroelectric domain shape by pulse laser irradiation

The increase of the domain shape dimensionality from one-dimensional (1D) to two-dimensional (2D) representing creation of the magnetic bubbles by application of the uniform magnetic field to the stripe domain structure is a well-known effect used for the magnetic memory. The analogy between ferromag-netic and ferroelectric domains stimulates a search of a similar effect in ferroelectrics. Here, we present the discovered 1D to 2D transformation of the domain shape under the action of pyroelectric field ap-peared in lithium niobate crystal as a result of irradiation by IR laser pulses. The imaging at the surface reveals the transformation of the stripe domains appeared after the first pulse into the regular arrays of isolated circular domains after the second pulse, whereas the imaging in the bulk reveals the trans-formation of the comb-like domain to array of isolated conical domains. The process was considered in terms of the kinetic approach. The mechanism of the comb-like domain formation by continuous tooth generation during domain elongation is proposed. The 1D to 2D transformation is attributed to the do -main splitting due to the backward motion of the charged domain wall. The proposed mechanisms are confirmed by computer simulation of the temporal dependence of the pyroelectric field excess over the threshold value. (c) 2021 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study reveals the transformation of domain shape from 1D to 2D in lithium niobate crystal under the action of pyroelectric field generated by IR laser pulses. The mechanisms of comb-like domain formation and domain splitting due to the backward motion of charged domain wall are proposed and confirmed by computer simulation.