The Dependence of the Refractive Index Change of Clamped Relaxor Ferroelectric Lead Lanthanum Zirconate Titanate (PLZT) Ceramics on AC and DC Electric Fields Measured Using an Interferometric Method

Abstract

The change in the transverse refractive indices of clamped transparent relaxor ferroelectric PLZT ceramics, having a composition of (9.5/65/35) and (9.0/65/35), were measured as a function of various ac and dc electric fields, as well as frequency and elapsed time, using an interferometric technique. It was found that the refractive index changed only in the same direction of the applied field, and that increasing dc fields decreased this refractive index, while increasing ac fields increased it, especially in composition (9.5/65/35). These results were explained on the basis of movement and creation of domain structures.

Keywords:

• Relaxor PLZT
• electro-optic properties
• relaxor-ferroelectric phase transition

PACS No:

• 78.20.-e
• 78.20.Ci