Formation of photoinduced space-charge field during in-bulk domain creation by femtosecond NIR laser irradiation in MgO:LN crystals

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kipenko, I. A., Zorikhin, D. A., Akhmatkhanov, A. R., Shur, V. Ya.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866911601790025728
author Kipenko, I. A.
Zorikhin, D. A.
Akhmatkhanov, A. R.
Shur, V. Ya.
author_facet Kipenko, I. A.
Zorikhin, D. A.
Akhmatkhanov, A. R.
Shur, V. Ya.
contents We have studied the domain switching under NIR fs-laser irradiation in MgO:LN single crystals with special attention to the relative positions of the light-induced domains, microtracks and regions with modified refractive index in the vicinity of the focusing point. The optical imaging along X direction of the irradiated sample demonstrated the narrow microtracks and the lens-shaped regions ("lenses") located in the vicinity of the microtracks. The relative positions of light-induced microtracks, domains and lenses were revealed by overlapping of their images. We have found that the domain envelops the microtrack and partially intersects with the lens. The temperature stability of all light-induced objects during annealing was studied. It was shown that the local modification of the refractive index disappeared irreversibly while the microtrack and domain remain unchanged. The obtained local modification of the refractive index has been considered as a result of the photorefractive effect. The disappearance of the lens after annealing is caused by bulk screening of the photoinduced space-charge field by increased bulk conductivity. The generation of photovoltaic field by tightly focused NIR fs-laser irradiation close to the focusing point is reported for the first time to the authors' knowledge. It should be noted that in LN the photovoltaic field is codirectional with spontaneous polarization and thus cannot switch the polarization. However, it is possible in ferroelectrics with the opposite direction of the photovoltaic field and low value of threshold field. The revealed effect can be utilized for creation of 3D nonlinear photonic crystals by in-bulk domain engineering.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_16048
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Formation of photoinduced space-charge field during in-bulk domain creation by femtosecond NIR laser irradiation in MgO:LN crystals
Kipenko, I. A.
Zorikhin, D. A.
Akhmatkhanov, A. R.
Shur, V. Ya.
Materials Science
We have studied the domain switching under NIR fs-laser irradiation in MgO:LN single crystals with special attention to the relative positions of the light-induced domains, microtracks and regions with modified refractive index in the vicinity of the focusing point. The optical imaging along X direction of the irradiated sample demonstrated the narrow microtracks and the lens-shaped regions ("lenses") located in the vicinity of the microtracks. The relative positions of light-induced microtracks, domains and lenses were revealed by overlapping of their images. We have found that the domain envelops the microtrack and partially intersects with the lens. The temperature stability of all light-induced objects during annealing was studied. It was shown that the local modification of the refractive index disappeared irreversibly while the microtrack and domain remain unchanged. The obtained local modification of the refractive index has been considered as a result of the photorefractive effect. The disappearance of the lens after annealing is caused by bulk screening of the photoinduced space-charge field by increased bulk conductivity. The generation of photovoltaic field by tightly focused NIR fs-laser irradiation close to the focusing point is reported for the first time to the authors' knowledge. It should be noted that in LN the photovoltaic field is codirectional with spontaneous polarization and thus cannot switch the polarization. However, it is possible in ferroelectrics with the opposite direction of the photovoltaic field and low value of threshold field. The revealed effect can be utilized for creation of 3D nonlinear photonic crystals by in-bulk domain engineering.
title Formation of photoinduced space-charge field during in-bulk domain creation by femtosecond NIR laser irradiation in MgO:LN crystals
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.16048