Investigation by coherent X-ray section topography of ferroelectric domain behaviour as a function of temperature in periodically poled Rb:KTP

The behaviour of ferroelectric domains at high temperatures near the Curie temperature in a periodically poled rubidium-doped potassium titanyl phosphate crystal (Rb:KTP) has been studied by Bragg-Fresnel X-ray diffraction imaging in situ using a compact coherence-preserving furnace. The development and partial disappearance of the inverted domain structure as the temperature increases has been successfully modelled, and is explained by invoking a built-in electric field produced under heating in a low vacuum by out-diffusion of atoms from the sample.