Electron spin relaxation studies of impurity iron ions in ferroelectric lithium niobate

The nuclear hyperfine structure of dilute impurity iron ions in ferroelectric lithium niobate is investigated via⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect (ME). The ME spectra exhibit typical slow electron spin relaxation effects associated with Fe³⁺ ions in the⁶S_5/2 state, which are analysed using spin-Hamiltonian formalism. For Fe³⁺ ions, the principal axis of EFG tensor is found to be parallel to the crystallographic c-axis. The strong external magnetic field of 47 KOe is used to study magnetic and crystal field effects on the ME hyperfine structure.     

Tailor-made domain structures on the x- and y-face of lithium niobate crystals

Ferroelectric domains are engineered in lithium niobate crystals by scanning strongly absorbed UV laser light across the crystal surface. Focused UV laser light can not only write, but also erase previously written domains on the non-polar faces of lithium niobate, which allows tailoring of domain patterns. Such domain pattern was generated and afterward investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy and hydrofluoric acid etching. It was found that domains with dimensions down to 2 μm can be engineered, which was ～30 % of the focus beam diameter (7 μm) used for writing the domains. Additionally, it was found that an unique domain depth profile can be formed, which is inclined to the crystallographic axes and can be described as ‘half-crescent-shaped’.     

Domain kinetics in the formation of a periodic domain structure in lithium niobate

The evolution of the domain structure in LiNbO₃ with polarization switching in an electric field is investigated experimentally. Special attention is given to the formation processes of a regular domain applicable to nonlinear optical devices. A new method based on the spontaneous backswitching effect is proposed for creating a regular structure with a period of 2.6 μm in LiNbO₃ with a thickness of 0.5 mm. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1831–1837 (October 1999)     

The role of Jahn-Teller ions in the optical formation of domains in lithium niobate

Local repolarization processes were studied in initially single-domain iron-ion-containing LiNbO₃ crystals exposed to focused laser radiation. The dependence of the formation of local domains and periodic domain structures on the temperature and the applied electric field strength was determined. It was shown that these effects are controlled by the total concentration of iron ions and the ratio of the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ concentrations.     

Periodic domain structures in stoichiometric lithium niobate: Formation by electron beam

The formation of periodic domain structures in stoichiometric lithium niobate crystals via direct surface irradiation using a controllable electron beam in a scanning electron microscope is studied. The periodic domain structures are fabricated at different microscope parameters (current, voltage, charge density) and different ways of charge implantation. The irradiation modes for the formation of uniform periodic domain structures are experimentally found. The use of optimal electron-beam parameters and ways of crystal surface irradiation make it possible to fabricate domain structures with a period of 6.9 μm in a crystal 0.5 mm thick. Domain structures of this kind can be used for optical wavelength conversion by quasi-phase-matching and second harmonic generation in lithium niobate.     

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

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.     

Light propagation in double-periodic nonlinear photonic lattices in lithium niobate

Single- and double-periodic one-dimensional photonic lattices are formed in lithium niobate using both titanium in-diffusion and holographic grating recording. We investigate linear band structures and diffraction properties of such superlattices and observe a decrease of discrete diffraction with increasing modulation depth of the second superimposed lattice. In weakly modulated superlattices with tailored diffraction properties, our results demonstrate the formation of discrete solitons having a propagation constant inside the extra mini-gap formed inside the Brillouin zone. PACS 42.65.Tg; 42.70.Qs; 42.82.Et     

Propagation of high-frequency acoustic waves through the structure of Jahn-Teller ions in lithium niobate with iron

This paper reports on the results of an investigation into the specific features of the propagation of acoustic waves in lithium niobate LiNbO₃ with iron ions under laser irradiation of regions with increased and decreased concentrations of Fe²⁺ ions. It is shown that the observed effects of local variations in the damping and velocity of acoustic waves are associated with the strong electron-phonon interaction of Jahn-Teller Fe²⁺ ions.     

Doping mechanism of optical-damage-resistant ions in lithium niobate crystals

The doping mechanism of optical-damage-resistant ions (Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, In³⁺, Sc³⁺, Hf⁴⁺, and Zr⁴⁺) in the lithium niobate crystallographic frame is quantitatively studied from the chemical bond viewpoint. Calculated results show that optical-damage-resistant ions have a strong interaction with the lithium niobate matrix, which is quantitatively evaluated by the deviation between normal and calculated valence states and the global instability index. All optical-damage-resistant ions first substitute Nb_Li and then Li ions, they change their dopant occupancies from Li to Nb sites at the same global instability index value 0.1055. On the basis of such a quantitative interaction, the doping mechanism of these ions is finally derived. Furthermore, a criterion in searching for new optical-damage-resistant ions is also proposed.     

Irradiation-assisted photoelastic domain wall formation in X- and Y-cut lithium niobate

Irradiation-assisted photoelastic domain wall formation in single-crystalline X- and Y-cut lithium niobate (LNO) is studied at low displacement doses, namely, up to a maximum of 2.5×10⁻² dpa and annealed at 270 °C. The formation of surface ridges (or striations) is observed and quantified using atomic force and optical microscopy. In spite of the different crystallographic orientation of the two single-crystals a correlation between the density of surface defects and the displacement dose is established phenomenologically which means that the displacement damage and its consequent defect accumulation behavior prior to annealing (‘incubation phase’) defines to which extent the lattice undergoes an irreversible mechanical deformation immediately after annealing. This ridge formation mechanism assisted by irradiation and moderate annealing constitutes a fine tool to modify the near-surface structure and the local optical properties of LNO and hence it allows one to potentially micromachine new photonic devices.     

Characterization of periodic domain structures in lithium niobate crystals by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis

Congruent lithium niobate crystals with periodic domain structures formed by the method of thermoelectric postgrowth treatment have been investigated. Periodic domain structures in the samples of polar ZY-, YZ-, and YX-cuts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution x-ray diffractometry, and topography. The evaluation and comparison of the secondary electron (SE) signal cycling, electron emission coefficient, and charge value to equalize the differences in the SE signal have allowed us to specify the features of ZY-and YZ-cut structures. A correlation between the crystal lattice distortions near domain boundaries and the type of domain walls has been found. The domain walls separating the areas with the tail-to-tail P _s vectors not only cause stronger crystal lattice distortions near them, but also are charged less quickly under electron irradiation.     

Effect of cobalt impurity ions on the magnetic and electrical properties of iron monosilicide crystals

The results of experimental investigations of Fe_{1 − x} Co _x Si crystals in the impurity limit with x = 0.001, 0.005, and 0.01 are reported. The temperature and field dependences of the magnetic susceptibility have been studied. According to the experimental data, the introduction of cobalt impurity leads to a change in the energy structure, which is most pronounced in a change in the electrical properties. The temperature, field, and concentration dependences of the resistivity have been measured. The results have been interpreted in the framework of the Kondo model.     

Co,Zn共掺铌酸锂电子结构和吸收光谱的第一性原理研究

利用基于密度泛函的第一性原理的计算方法,研究了Co单掺及Co和Zn共掺LiNbO_3晶体的电子结构和吸收光谱.研究显示,各掺杂体系铌酸锂晶体的带隙均较纯铌酸锂晶体变窄. Co:LiNbO_3晶体禁带宽度为3.32 eV; Co:Zn:LiNbO_3晶体, Zn的浓度低于阈值或达到阈值时,禁带宽度分别为2.87或2.75 eV. Co:LiNbO_3晶体在可见-近红外光波段2.40, 1.58, 1.10 eV处形成吸收峰,这些峰归结于Co 3d分裂轨道的跃迁;加入抗光折变离子Zn~(2+),在1.58, 1.10 eV处的吸收峰增强,可以认为Zn~(2+)与Co~(2+)之间存在电荷转移,使e_g轨道电子减少,但并不影响t_(2g)轨道电子.结果表明,晶体中的Co离子在不同共掺离子下可充当深能级中心(2.40 eV),或可充当浅能级中心(1.58 eV),两种情况下,掺入近阈值的Zn离子均有助于实现优化存储.     

Laser-induced preferential domain nucleation in hafnium-doped congruent lithium niobate crystal

The focused visible laser-induced preferential domain nucleation effect is investigated in 3 mol% hafnium-doped congruent lithium niobate crystal. The local phase variation is in-situ monitored during laser-induced preferential domain nucleation. The variations of phase distributions are reconstructed by digital holographic interferometry. The nucleation field decreases exponentially with increasing irradiation intensity. The space charge field along the z direction is thought to be an important mechanism for the laser-induced preferential domain nucleation. Laser-induced hafnium-doped congruent lithium niobate crystals appear to be a promising candidate for further development of ferroelectric domain engineering.     

Influence of ferroelectric domain walls on the Raman scattering process in lithium tantalate and niobate

We report changes in the Raman spectra at ferroelectric domain walls in near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 and stoichiometric LiTaO3. We find a decrease of intensity for the regular bulk Raman peaks along with increases of intensity in spectral regions that correspond to phonons, which propagate at an angle with respect to the incident light. In the backscattering geometry, such modes are not supported in the bulk crystal due to momentum conservation. We confirm that these changes are due to the domain wall itself and are independent of intrinsic defects or charging effects.     

Evolution of domain structure and formation of charged domain walls during polarization reversal in lithium niobate single crystals modified by vacuum annealing

The evolution of the domain structure during polarization reversal has been investigated in plates of lithium niobate with spatially inhomogeneous electrical conductivity produced by vacuum annealing. The formation of charged domain walls in the crystal bulk has been studied. Revealed features of the domain growth in the bulk have been attributed to the formation of nanodomains under the pyroelectric field and inhomogeneous spatial distribution of the electric field. Creation of the charged domain walls with controlled parameters is of great interest for domain walls engineering.     

Linear and nonlinear propagation of light beams in two-dimensional photorefractive photonic lattices formed in lithium niobate

Special features of linear and nonlinear propagation of coherent light beams in two-dimensional photorefractive photonic lattices optically induced in the lithium niobate crystal doped with iron are experimentally investigated. The two-dimensional gratings are formed by consecutive recording of two one-dimensional photorefractive gratings in the crystal. Experiments were performed using He-Ne laser irradiation with a wavelength of 633 nm. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 58–62, September, 2006.     

Quasi-one-dimensional photonic lattices and superlattices in lithium niobate: Linear and nonlinear discrete diffraction of light

The effects of linear and nonlinear light propagation in quasi-one-dimensional systems of coupled optical waveguides (photonic lattices and superlattices) obtained by projection optical induction in photorefractive lithium niobate samples have been experimentally studied and numerically simulated.     

Strong impact of impurity bands on domain formation in superlattices

The formation of electric field domains in doped semiconductor superlattices is described within a microscopic model. Due to the presence of impurity bands in low-doped samples the current–voltage characteristic is essentially different compared to medium-doped samples.