We report on the light scattering phenomenon in annealed multidomain LiNbO₃:Fe:Hf crystals. The scattering sources are found to be some fog-like “defects”, which cause the polarization-dependent scattering of the light, and can be removed completely by the illumination of visible light. Based on these results and the etch patterns, these “defects” are suggested to be refractive index fluctuations induced by the space charges accumulated at the boundary of opposite microdomains. The influence of quick heating-up on the “defects” is also studied and the results firmly support our suggestion about the nature of the “defects”. At last, the temporal curves of the transmitted intensity during the light scattering are explained. The mechanism for the opposite microdomain formation is also explained from the view of crystal growth.

© 2010 OSA

1. P. Günter, and J. P. Huignard, Photorefractive Materials and Their Applications, Vols. I and II, (Springer, Heidelberg, 1989).
2. T. Volk, N. Rubinina, and M. Wöhlecke, “Optical-damage-resistant impurities in lithium niobate,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(9), 1681–1687 (1994). [CrossRef]
3. T. Volk, and M. Wöhlecke, Lithium Niobate: Defects, Photorefraction and Ferroelectric Switching, (Springer, Berlin, 2008).
4. T. Volk, M. Wöhlecke, N. Rubinina, N. V. Razumovski, F. Jermann, C. Fischer, and R. Bower, “LiNbO3 with the damage-resistant impurity indium,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 60, 217–225 (1995). [CrossRef]
5. M. Simon, F. Jermann, T. R. Volk, and E. Krätzig, “Influence of zinc doping on the photorefractive properties of lithium niobate,” Phys. Status Solidi 149(2), 723–732 (1995). [CrossRef]
6. S. Li, S. Liu, Y. Kong, J. Xu, and G. Zhang, “Enhanced photorefractive properties of LiNbO3:Fe crystals by HfO2 co-doping,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(10), 101126 (2006). [CrossRef]
7. W. Yan, H. Chen, L. Shi, S. Liu, and Y. Kong, “Investigations of the light-induced scattering varied with HfO2 codoping in LiNbO3 Fe crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90(21), 211108 (2007). [CrossRef]
8. A. M. Prokhorov, and Yu. S. Kuz’minov, Physics and Chemistry of Lithium Niobate, (Bristol, Hilger, 1990)
9. V. Bermúdez, P. S. Dutta, M. D. Serrano, and E. Dieguéz, “The effect of native defects on the domain structures of LiNbO3: Fe- a case study by addition of MgO and K2O to the congruent melt,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 9(28), 6097–6101 (1997). [CrossRef]
10. D. Callejo, V. Bermúdez, and E. Dieguéz, “Influence of Hf ions in the formation of Periodic Poled Lithium Niobate Structures,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 13(6), 1337–1342 (2001). [CrossRef]
11. L. Razzari, P. Minzioni, I. Cristiani, V. Degiorgio, and E. P. Kokanyan, “Photorefractivity of Hafnium-doped congruent lithium–niobate crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86(13), 131914 (2005). [CrossRef]
12. E. Soergel, “Visualization of ferroelectric domains in bulk single crystals,” Appl. Phys. B 81(6), 729–751 (2005). [CrossRef]
13. K. Buse, “Light-induced charge transport processes in photorefractive crystals II: Materials,” Appl. Phys. B 64(4), 391–407 (1997). [CrossRef]
14. R. S. Weis and T. K. Gaylord, “Lithium Niobate: Summary of Physical Properties and Crystal Structure,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 37(4), 191–203 (1985). [CrossRef]
15. A. Yariv, S. S. Orlov, and G. A. Rakuljic, “Holographic storage dynamics in lithium niobate: theory and experiment,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(11), 2513–2523 (1996). [CrossRef]
16. E. P. Kokanyan, L. Razzari, I. Cristiani, V. Degiorgio, and J. B. Gruber, “Reduced photorefraction in hafnium-doped single-domain and periodically poled lithium niobate crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(11), 1880–1882 (2004). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. B

• E. Soergel, “Visualization of ferroelectric domains in bulk single crystals,” Appl. Phys. B 81(6), 729–751 (2005). [CrossRef]
• K. Buse, “Light-induced charge transport processes in photorefractive crystals II: Materials,” Appl. Phys. B 64(4), 391–407 (1997). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• L. Razzari, P. Minzioni, I. Cristiani, V. Degiorgio, and E. P. Kokanyan, “Photorefractivity of Hafnium-doped congruent lithium–niobate crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86(13), 131914 (2005). [CrossRef]
• E. P. Kokanyan, L. Razzari, I. Cristiani, V. Degiorgio, and J. B. Gruber, “Reduced photorefraction in hafnium-doped single-domain and periodically poled lithium niobate crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(11), 1880–1882 (2004). [CrossRef]
• S. Li, S. Liu, Y. Kong, J. Xu, and G. Zhang, “Enhanced photorefractive properties of LiNbO3:Fe crystals by HfO2 co-doping,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(10), 101126 (2006). [CrossRef]
• W. Yan, H. Chen, L. Shi, S. Liu, and Y. Kong, “Investigations of the light-induced scattering varied with HfO2 codoping in LiNbO3 Fe crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90(21), 211108 (2007). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process.

• T. Volk, M. Wöhlecke, N. Rubinina, N. V. Razumovski, F. Jermann, C. Fischer, and R. Bower, “LiNbO3 with the damage-resistant impurity indium,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 60, 217–225 (1995). [CrossRef]
• R. S. Weis and T. K. Gaylord, “Lithium Niobate: Summary of Physical Properties and Crystal Structure,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 37(4), 191–203 (1985). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• A. Yariv, S. S. Orlov, and G. A. Rakuljic, “Holographic storage dynamics in lithium niobate: theory and experiment,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(11), 2513–2523 (1996). [CrossRef]
• T. Volk, N. Rubinina, and M. Wöhlecke, “Optical-damage-resistant impurities in lithium niobate,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 11(9), 1681–1687 (1994). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Condens. Matter

• V. Bermúdez, P. S. Dutta, M. D. Serrano, and E. Dieguéz, “The effect of native defects on the domain structures of LiNbO3: Fe- a case study by addition of MgO and K2O to the congruent melt,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 9(28), 6097–6101 (1997). [CrossRef]
• D. Callejo, V. Bermúdez, and E. Dieguéz, “Influence of Hf ions in the formation of Periodic Poled Lithium Niobate Structures,” J. Phys. Condens. Matter 13(6), 1337–1342 (2001). [CrossRef]

Phys. Status Solidi

• M. Simon, F. Jermann, T. R. Volk, and E. Krätzig, “Influence of zinc doping on the photorefractive properties of lithium niobate,” Phys. Status Solidi 149(2), 723–732 (1995). [CrossRef]

Other

• T. Volk, and M. Wöhlecke, Lithium Niobate: Defects, Photorefraction and Ferroelectric Switching, (Springer, Berlin, 2008).
• A. M. Prokhorov, and Yu. S. Kuz’minov, Physics and Chemistry of Lithium Niobate, (Bristol, Hilger, 1990)
• P. Günter, and J. P. Huignard, Photorefractive Materials and Their Applications, Vols. I and II, (Springer, Heidelberg, 1989).

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