Domain walls characterization of the opposite domain lithium niobate structures

Opposite domain lithium niobate structures have been grown using erbium as a dopant. The "head-to-head" and "tail-to-tail" domain walls show a variati on in the Li/Nb ratio, while the Er concentration is constant along the per iodic domain structure. The influence of the etching time in the domain pat tern was studied. After a vapor transport equilibration process the domain structure is destroyed, and the Li/Nb ratio is constant along the whole sam ple due to the Li in-diffusion process. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scie nce B.V.