Flash X-ray studies of the kinematics of domain switching in gadolinium molybdate single crystals

Abstract

The kinematics of domain switching in gadolinium molybdate were used to test the feasibility of studying fast structural changes in crystalline solids by flash X-ray diffraction techniques. Our experiments show the feasibility of detecting the domain switching by flash X-ray diffraction and also indicate the possibility of a quantitative follow-up of the development of the switching process. The switching-time dependence upon the applied electrical field is in good agreement with data reported in the literature, thus proving the reliability of studying these phenomena by flash X-ray diffraction.