Phase contrast imaging and diffraction-space mapping of periodic inversiondomains in LiNbO3 with advanced x-rays

This paper presents some recent advances in structural characterization of periodic inversion domains in ferroelectric nonlinear optical crystals usin g novel techniques such as diffraction-space mapping, diffuse scattering im aging and phase-contrast imaging. The great advantages of using both highly coherent hard x-ray photons delivered by the third-generation synchrotron source and the well-defined x-ray beam provided by state-of-the-art laborat ory diffractometer are addressed in terms of investigation of periodically domain-inverted LiNbO3 crystals. The microstructural characteristics of the periodic inversion domains in LiNbO3 are discussed, with an indication of their differences from naturally-occurring inversion domains.