Observation of antiparallel polarization reversal using a scanning nonlinear dielectric microscope

To realize an ultrahigh density storage system it is indispensable to investigate a forming mechanism of a ferroelectric domain reversal. In this paper, a real-time measuring method of a poling direction is proposed. Using this method, the domain reversal process was observed and an unexpected phenomenon was found, namely, that the poling directions were aligned antiparallel to the poling electric field. This antiparallel poling reversal took place when the film thickness was more than 350 nm in the case of lithium tantalate. At present, the reason and mechanism of the antiparallel poling reversal are uncertain, although it might be related to the concentrated electric field near the cantilever tip.