Impact of ultraviolet light on coercive field, poling dynamics and poling quality of various lithium niobate crystals from different sources

Ferroelectric domain reversal by electric field poling of lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO3) with varying stoichiometry and magnesium (MgO) doping level obtained from various commercial suppliers is investigated. Magnesium doping lowers the domain-wall velocity, increases the uniformity of the growth of the domains, and reduces the impact of crystal symmetry on the shape of the domains. Illumination with ultraviolet (UV) laser light (305nm) reduces the coercive field by up to 34% in MgO-doped crystals, but is accompanied by a degradation of poling quality. UV light of longer wavelengths (334nm) has no influence on the coercive field except for the MgO:LiNbO3 material of one supplier, where the field is reduced by 27%. In this case the poling quality is excellent. UV-induced reduction of stress-induced birefringence is observed in some samples. The results are of crucial relevance for light-induced domain engineering of LiNbO3 crystals.

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