Plastic deformation of LiNbO3 single crystals

Abstract
High temperature (> 0.8 TM) plastic deformation of ferroelectric monodomain LiNbO3 single crystals is reported. Different stress orientations have been chosen and basal, prismatic and pyramidal glide planes could be activated. A detailed analysis of the glide elements is made by means of optical, chemical etching and X-ray topography observations, as well as mechanical considerations (CRSS). The basal glide system (0001) with a CRSS of 13 MPa seems easier to activate than the prismatic glide system {1120} whose CRSS is 15 MPa, the pyramidal glide system {1102} with a CRSS of 17-18 MPa being the hardest to activate