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Kerr effect and birefringence from paraelectric CN − defects in nine alkali halides
Author(s) -
DiazGongora A.,
Lüty F.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.2220860114
Subject(s) - birefringence , rubidium , halide , alkali metal , potassium , polarizability , electric field , anisotropy , sodium , dipole , condensed matter physics , kerr effect , chemistry , symmetry (geometry) , crystal (programming language) , inorganic chemistry , crystallography , optics , physics , molecule , organic chemistry , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , nonlinear system , computer science , programming language
Substitutional CN − defects in the sodium‐, potassium‐ and rubidium‐chlorides, ‐bromides, and iodides are investigated at low temperatures (2 to 8 K) under electric fields E of different symmetry for their field‐induced birefringence Δ n ( E ) (Kerr‐effect). In all nine crystal systems, a para‐electric Kerr‐effect is found with a pronounced anisotropy giving evidence for 〈111〉 CN − symmetry in the six potassium‐ and rubidium‐halides, and 〈100〉 symmetry in the three sodium‐halides. Under increase of the CN − concentration, anisotropic birefringence effects appear (without field) under cooling of the crystals, indicating low temperature ordering of interacting CN − dipole clusters.