Bilateral switching of the modulated electrooptic contrast in PLZTN ceramics

Spatial distribution of ferroelectric polarization in Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ ceramics doped with lanthanum and niobium has been investigated using scanning electrooptic confocal microscopy. Measurement of the modulated electrooptic signal in presence of a sinusoidal electric field reveals ferroelectric domains at microscopic scale not accessible to conventional polarized optical imaging. Both electrooptic images and local electrooptic loops have been observed after applying a bias electric field to the ceramic samples, being initially non-ferroelectric macroscopically. Bilateral reversal of the electrooptic contrast during the poling cycle has been detected and explained taking into account non-180° switching processes in ferroelectric grains of arbitrary orientation.