The most characteristic functional property of antiferroelectric materials is the possibility to induce a phase transition from a nonpolar to a polar phase by an electric field. Here, we investigate the effect of this field-induced phase transition on the birefringence change of $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.95}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.05}{\mathrm{O}}_3$. We use a transparent polycrystalline $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.95}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.05}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ film grown on ${\mathrm{PbTiO}}_3/{\mathrm{HfO}}_2/{\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ with interdigitated electrodes to directly investigate changes in birefringence in a simple transmission geometry. In spite of the polycrystalline nature of the film and its moderate thickness, the field-induced transition produces a sizable effect observable under a polarized microscope. The film in its polar phase is found to behave like a homogeneous birefringent medium. The time evolution of this field-induced birefringence provides information about irreversibilities in the antiferroelectric switching process and its slow dynamics. The change in birefringence has two main contributions: One that responds briskly and a slower one that rises and saturates over a period of as long as 30 min. Possible origins for this long saturation and relaxation times are discussed.

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• Antiferroelectricity
• Birefringence
• Ferroelectricity
• Phase transitions