Investigation of internal electric fields in graphene/6H-SiC under illumination by Pockels effect

TL;DR

This study presents a novel method to map internal electric fields in birefringent crystals like 6H-SiC using the Pockels effect, accounting for birefringence and thermo-optical effects, revealing space charge formation under illumination.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new optical technique for measuring internal electric fields in birefringent crystals, adaptable to various Pockels materials, and demonstrates its application to 6H-SiC under light exposure.

Findings

Significant space charge formation in 6H-SiC under illumination

Effective compensation for birefringence and thermo-optical effects

Method applicable to other Pockels crystals

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a method for mapping profiles of internal electric fields in birefringent crystals based on the electro-optic Pockels effect and measuring phase differences of low-intensity polarized light. In the case of the studied 6H-SiC crystal with graphene electrodes, the experiment is significantly affected by birefringence at zero bias voltage applied to the crystal and a strong thermo-optical effect. We dealt with these phenomena by adding a Soleil-Babinet compensator and using considerations based on measurements of crystal heating under laser illumination. The method can be generalized and adapted to any Pockels crystal that can withstand sufficiently high voltages. We demonstrate the significant formation of space charge in semi-insulating 6H-SiC under illumination by above-bandgap light.