CAREER: Real Time Studies of Domain Dynamics in Ferroelectrics for Photonic Applications

本CAREER项目重点研究与集成光学和非线性光学相关的铁电铌酸锂（LiNbO3）和钽酸锂（LiTaO3）。该方法是通过实时、原位和非破坏性探针直接探测LiNbO3和LiTaO3中铁电畴的结构和动力学。提出的研究在以下领域寻求新的信息和理解：(1)利用电光成像显微镜在纳米到毫秒的时间尺度上实时跟踪单晶中单个畴壁在电场下的运动。(2)利用二次谐波产生的测量方法原位探测薄膜中畴统计量随电场和温度的变化。(3)利用近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM）和扫描力显微镜（SFM）在亚微观长度尺度上探测畴壁钉钉、弯曲和脱屑过程。对畴壁结构、畴壁迁移率、合并动力学以及畴壁与晶格缺陷之间的钉-脱孔相互作用等经典问题的基本见解将被寻求，并将用于实现更有效的技术来塑造和控制铁电畴。该项目涉及具有高技术相关性的材料科学主题领域的基础研究问题。该研究将为电子/光子材料和先进器件/电路的重要方面提供基础材料科学、物理和工程知识。该项目的范围将使学生接触到材料合成、加工和表征方面的挑战。该项目的一个重要特点是非常重视教育，并将研究与教育相结合

This CAREER project focuses on ferroelectric lithium niobate (LiNbO3 ) and lithium tantalate (LiTaO3 ) relevant to integrated and nonlinear optics. The approach is to directly probe the structure and dynamics of ferroelectric domains in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 by real-time, in-situ, and nondestructive probes. The proposed studies seek new information and understanding in the areas of (1) Real-time tracking of the motion of individual domain walls under electric fields in single crystals on nano-to-millisecond time scales by Electro-Optic Imaging Microscopy. (2) In-situ probing of the evolution of domain statistics in thin films with electric field and temperature by Second harmonic Generation measurements. (3) Probing domain wall pinning, bending and depinning processes on submicroscopic length scales using Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) and Scanning Force Microscopy (SFM). Fundamental insights into the classical problems of domain wall structure, wall mobilities, merger dynamics, and pinning-depinning interactions between a domain wall and lattice defects are sought, and will be utilized to achieve more effective techniques to shape and control ferroelectric domains. %%%The project addresses fundamental research issues in a topical area of materials science having high technological relevance. The research will contribute basic materials science, physics, and engineering knowledge at a fundamental level to important aspects of electronic/photonic materials and advanced devices/circuits. The scope of the project will expose students to challenges in materials synthesis, processing, and characterization. An important feature of the project is the strong emphasis on education, and on the integration of research and education.***