Published in:
Applied Physics Letters 91,14 (2007) 142909 1-3;
Link to original published article:
http:/dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2794404
Abstract
The interaction of waves with inhomogeneous media leads to the natural focusing of light, the channelling of waves into stable caustics. We have extended natural focusing to x rays, observing caustics in topographs of ferroelectric lithium niobate. Voltage across domains of reversed polarity induces perturbations to the local crystal planes, producing dramatic variations in the images. Ray tracing shows a "catastrophic" discontinuity, causing bright focal lines. Analysis reveals details of boundary strains and local ferroelectric properties. Controlled focusing could be extended to designed domain patterns to probe microstructural properties, and also to a type of voltage-controlled ferroelectric optics for x rays. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.
Keywords
Physics, Applied
Date of this Version
January 2007