Anomalous photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics

Abstract

The recently discovered anomalous photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics is attracting considerable attention of specialists in ferroelectricity and solid-state physics. The anomalous nature of the effect is manifested by the fact that the photo-emf developed in ferroelectrics and pyroelectrics is many orders of magnitude greater than the band gap and can reach 103–105V. The anomalous photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics has found extensive applications in volume phase holography. A review is given of the experimental investigations of the anomalous photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics and also of the models proposed to explain this effect.