OBSERVATION OF FERROELECTRIC DOMAINS IN FLUX-GROWN KTIOPO4 CRYSTALS

Ferroelectric domains have been observed in flux grown KTiOPO4 single crystals using synchrotron x-ray diffraction topography. The transform ation of the multidomain crystal to single domain on heat-treatment wa s observed. The possible reason for such a behaviour must be similar t o the one reported for the semi-conducting ferroelectrics like K(Ta,Nb )O-3 and BaTiO3, wherein the electric field generated due to the pyroe lectric charges during the annealing process results in the self-polin g of the crystal.