Determination of the polarization distribution in a weakly-poled PVDF film using the surface laser intensity modulation method (SLIMM)

The surface laser intensity modulation method (SLIMM) is used for the determination of the spatial distribution of the polarization normal to and near the surface of a ferroelectric sample. The experimental data measured are pyroelectric currents as functions of frequency. The data analysis requires the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. This is an ill-posed problem which has multiple and very different solutions. The experimental method and a technique for data analysis are described. Experimental data on a weakly-poled polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film are presented and the polarization distribution is calculated.