Time characteristics of the scattering of light in a transparent ferroelectric ceramic

An experimental investigation was made of the response time and contrast characteristics of the longitudinal and transverse scattering of light in a transparent ferroelectric lead-lanthanum zirconate-titanate (PLZT) ceramic under switching conditions. These properties were determined as a function of the amplitude and duration of the switching pulses. When the amplitude was increased from 4 to 12 kV/cm, the scattering turn-on time decreased from 1 sec to 100 μsec. The contrast reached its maximum value, equal to 20, when the field was about 7 kV/cm. Depending on the pulse duration, an optical switch using this ceramic could be operated with or without memory.