Optical study of domains inBi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O_8-δsingle crystals

Abstract

Using polarizing microscopy in reflected light mode, we were able to observe domain structure in the BiSrCaCuO single crystals (BSCCO) at room temperature. Formation of domains structure is a phenomenon ocurring in ferroic phase transitions. In this paper we present experimental results of optical studies of the domain structure observed in BSCCO single crystals. We observed (110) domains walls only. No phase transition was observed at high temperature when the crystal was heated up to 700 OC.

Electron and light microscopy studies on the domain structures of Zn3B7O13Cl, Zn3B7O13Br and Zn3B7O13I ferroic boracites

“…Traditionally, the domain structure of boracites has been examined by polarized light microscopy (Schmid, 1969, 1970, 1992; Clin et al ., 1985), both in transmitted and reflected mode; a simple, non‐destructive, easily available and elegant technique which can be applied to as‐grown crystals after the elementary operation of polishing at least one facet of the crystal. PLM has also proved to be very useful in the observation of domain structures in the high T c superconductors (Schmid et al ., 1988; Castellanos et al ., 1992). It has been shown in the investigations of the domain structure of some boracites (Schmid, 1969; Schmid & Tippmann, 1978), that examination by means of PLM is the most direct method to reveal their static domain structure, as the polarization vector P s and optical indicatrix are differently orientated in every domain.…”

The observation of ferroelastic/ferroelectric domains in synthetic Mn3B7O13X single‐crystal boracites by light and electron microscopy

“…PLM is a classical technique which has become an indispensable tool for the study of ferroelectric/ferroelastic materials and it has also proved to be very useful in the observation of domain structures in the recently discovered high-T c superconductors (Schmid et al, 1988;Castellanos et al, 1992).…”