Visualization of 180 degrees domain structures in uniaxial ferroelectrics using confocal scanning optical microscopy

Confocal scanning optical microscopy (CSOM) is used to visualize ferroelect ric domain structure in materials with no natural optical contrast between domains. By applying an in-plane ac electric field, the orientation of the in-plane ferroelectric polarization may be determined. Experiments on LiNbO 3 single crystals show high-quality images of domain structures. The domain contrast is found to depend on the ac field orientation and the incident l ight polarization. This investigation demonstrates the utility of CSOM for studying static and dynamic processes of domain structure and the possibili ty for studying domain kinetics on the nanoscale level. (C) 2000 American I nstitute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)07504-6].