Creation of microdomains in an atomic force microscope in strontium-barium niobate ferroelectric crystals

Microdomains in SBN-0.61 polydomain crystals have been recorded by the atomic force microscopy method with the application of a dc voltage of 1–10 V applied to a probe. The domain areas have been obtained as functions of the voltage and exposition time. The kinetics of the decay of the domains after the shutdown of the field have been determined. The nonclassical characteristics observed in the dynamics of domain walls are attributed to the nonuniform spatial distribution of the atomic force microscope field. The kinetics of the decay of the microdomains are in qualitative agreement with the kinetics of the depolarization of the strontium-barium niobate solutions, which is observed by macroscopic methods.