Study of the local repolarization currents and charge carrier injection onan LiNbO3 surface scanned with a mobile point electrode

A method of the potential relief recording and reading in a subsurface regi on of Z-cut monodomain lithium niobate crystals of congruent composition wa s developed. The method is based on scanning the crystal surface with a poi nt (needle-like) electrode. The injection and polarization switching curren ts were measured in the course of scanning. It was found that the character istic time of the potential relief formation during the injection of carrie rs into the subsurface crystal region is on the order of 10(-1) s. The proc ess of polarization switching and the related potential relief formation is about ten times faster. For a dot recording, a characteristic distance on which a significant change in the recorded potential relief takes place is on the order of 10(2) mum. The carrier injection current in the +Z directio n is smaller than that in the opposite direction. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Inte rperiodica".