Creation of a Periodic Domain Structure in MgOLN by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

Abstract

The systematic imaging of the damaged tracks and domain patterns created in the MgOLN plates by one-step fs-laser irradiation at different depths was carried out. It is shown that the domains in the bulk have a spindle-like shape and start to grow in the Z− direction from the track ends. The domain shape changes from a spindle-like one with charged walls to a hexagonal prism with neutral walls after the domain reaches the polar surface. The length of the domains located in the bulk increases linearly with the pulse energy. The hexagonal domain shape at the surface is typical for the crystals of the lithium niobate family. The obtained effects have been considered in terms of the kinetic approach. After irradiation, the domains appear in the vicinity of the track ends with maximum electric field strength and grow under the action of a spatially nonuniform pyroelectric field. The key role of the pyroelectric field is confirmed by the creation of new domains at the surface without correlation with the position of the focusing point located at the vicinity of the surface. The 3D domain pattern was produced, which represented four layers of the regular matrices consisting of elongated domains about 100 μm in length.

Keywords

• ferroelectrics
• domain structure
• domain growth
• femtosecond laser irradiation
• ultrashort laser pulses
• lithium niobate