A new method for the study of antiparallel ferroelectric domains

Abstract Beam-coupling topography is a non-destructive holographic technique for spatially resolved recording of hysteresis loops and for imaging of domains. Its basic principle is interference of rays diffracted from a holographic grating with collinear, transmitted ones. Full domain contrast and noise suppression is achieved by appropriate control of intensity and phase of the interfering beams. The method is applied to antiparallel a-domains in (Sr0.61Ba0.39)Nb2O6:Ce.