Birefringent light scattering in PLZT ceramics

Abstract

A model for visible light scattering in thin, ferroelectric ceramic plates is presented. This and other previously published models are compared with experimental results. An expression for scattered light intensity over exit angle is developed on the basis of multiple refraction from randomly oriented grain and domain walls in a birefringent medium and is compared to measurements of longitudinal-mode light scattering from thin (~250-650-mum) PLZT plates of three different ceramic compositions. The characteristic differences in the observed light scattering are attributed to two physical mechanisms that are related to field-induced ferroelectric anisotropies.