FERROELECTRIC MEMORY AND OPTICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the polarization direction in a ferroelectric material in a noncontact method. SOLUTION: A ferroelectric crystal 1 and a liquid crystal 2 are disposed as tightly in contact with each other and irradiated with laser light 3 to excite a pyroelectric voltage on the surface of the ferroelectric crystal 1. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal 2 is changed by the voltage to change the intensity of the reflected light 5, and as a result, the polarization direction 4 in a desired region in the ferroelectric crystal 1 is detected.