Domain imaging on multiferroic BiFeO3(001) by linear and circular dichroism in threshold photoemission

We demonstrate ferroelectric domain imaging at BiFeO3(001) single crystal surfaces with laser-based threshold photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). Work function differences and linear dichroism allow for the identification of the eight independent ferroelectric domain configurations in the PEEM images. There, the determined domain structure is consistent with piezoresponse force microscopy of the sample surface and can also be related to the circular dichroic PEEM images. Our results provide a method for efficient mapping of complex ferroelectric domains with laser-excited PEEM and may allow lab-based time-resolved studies of the domain dynamics in the future. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.