Influence of laser radiation on the birefringence of a transparent ferroelectric ceramic

An investigation was made of the influence of laser radiation of λ = 10.6 μ wavelength on the birefringence of lead-lanthanum zirconate-titanate (PLZT) ceramic with the 12:40:60 composition. Irradiation altered the birefringence and the nature of the change depended on the radiation energy. A thermal mechanism is proposed to account for this change.