Development of nonlinear dielectric microscope and its application to measurement of ferroelectric polarization

Abstract

This paper describes a new technique for imaging the state of spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric material by measuring the microscopic distribution of nonlinear dielectric constants. First, the theory for this new microscope is described. Secondly, applying this theory, the nonlinear dielectric microscope (a new microscope for measuring the distribution of nonlinear dielectric properties) is developed. Finally, using this new microscope, the distributions of the polarization of the lead zirconate titanate ceramics and the piezoelectric thin film of the copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene are observed.