Scattering of light in a transparent ferroelectric ceramic suitable for optoelectronic applications

An investigation was made of the scattering of light in a lead-lanthanum zirconate-titanate (PLZT) ceramic of the 8:65:35 composition and 4–5 μ grain size. The samples were in different states of electric polarization. Information could be recorded in this transparent ceramic by altering the polarization state as a result of the scattering of light and this could be done by two methods. The contrast factor depended on the recording method, wavelength of incident light, and detector aperture. The highest values of this factor were obtained in the first method and for wavelengths λ = 0.45 and 0.65 μ these values were 660 and 20, respectively (the angular aperture of the detector was 0.3°). Erasure was performed by heating a sample (after recording by the first method) or by applying an electric voltage of opposite polarity (after recording by the second method). Heating and erasure could be performed by an alternating electric field whose frequency was at least 200 kHz.