Scanning electron microscopy observation of excitation of the surface acoustic waves by the regular domain structures in the LiNbO3 crystals

This letter reports a scanning electron microscope study of excitation of surface acoustic waves by the regular domain structures in LiNbO3 crystals. The regular domain structures in LiNbO3 crystals were formed by the method of aftergrowth thermoelectrical treatment. It is shown that the regular domain structures excite surface acoustic waves by the piezoelectric effect. In this case, the wavelength of the surface acoustic waves is determined by the period of the regular domain structure. These experiments have been made at CNRS (Grenoble, France) using a scanning electron microscope JSM‐840.