Domain reversal characteristics of near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals

The domain reversal characteristics of near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 ([Li]/[Li +Nb]=0.496) single crystals, which are grown by the Czochralski method with K2O flux, are investigated. The switch field for 180 degrees ferroelectric domain reversal in the near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystal is 8.0+/-0.5kV/m m, which is only one third of the switching field required for the congruen t LiNbO3 crystals. We have successfully achieved 180 degrees domain reversa l in near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 samples of 1.0 mm thickness.