Ferroelectric and optical properties of single crystal BaZnF4

Single crystalline BaZnF4 is grown by the Czochralski technique. Optical measurements indicate a wide transparency from the vacuum ultraviolet to the far infrared (0.145–10μm). The ferroelectric properties are determined for the first time by the polarization hysteresis. The spontaneous polarization Ps is found to be 9μC∕cm2, while the coercive field Ec varies between 9 and 75kV∕cm, depending on the field frequency. The material properties are compared with those of BaMgF4, which is another candidate for the realization of all-solid-state lasers emitting in the ultraviolet wavelength region.