Ural Federal University: UrFU and Xi’an Jiaotong University Successfully Completed the First Stage of Joint Research

A team of the Ferroelectric Laboratory of the Department of Optoelectronics and Semiconductor Technique (Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics), headed by Professor Vladimir Shur, received a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in October 2021. The grant was awarded for joint research with scientists from Xi’an Jiaotong University on the Segnetoelectric Crystals with Regular Domain Structure for Optoelectronics project.

The scientific groups of Ural Federal University and Xi’an Jiaotong University have a long experience of productive scientific relations, the results of which have been published in 25 joint articles in reputable scientific journals. In 2020, a joint international project of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and BRICS was successfully completed.

The goal of the new project is to develop domain engineering methods to create a stable domain structure of a particular shape in crystals of the PMN-PT family of segmentelectrics. The record piezoelectric characteristics of these crystals are widely used nowadays. At the same time, they are also known to have outstanding nonlinear optical properties. However, in order to create radiation frequency converters and optical deflectors, it is necessary to develop methods of domain engineering, in other words, to learn how to control the domain structure. As part of the project, Chinese partners will grow crystals of the PMN-PT family with an increased homogeneity of composition and develop methods for manufacturing single-domain plates of optical quality, while detailed comprehensive studies of domain structure kinetics in the electric field will be conducted at UrFU to develop methods for creating a stable periodic domain structure. As a result of the project, prototypes of laser radiation frequency converters and cascade optical deflectors will be manufactured and tested.

The planned results of the project are of significant interest to manufacturers of fiber and semiconductor lasers, which are widely used in manufacturing, medicine, communication systems, and other industries.