The edge electric field of a pyroelectric and its applications

Abstract

Following a change of temperature of a pyroelectric (PE), a depolarizing electric field appears both inside the PE, as well as outside its edges, the edge depolarizing electric field (EDEF). The EDEF extends outwards up to a distance of the order of magnitude of the PE width. The mapping and the strength of the EDEF have been calculated and analyzed for the case of a semi-infinite pyroelectric plate. This strong EDEF (10 4 -10 5 V/cm), when penetrating into the surrounding medium, creates a variety of physical effects: inducing electrical current in a semiconductor and affecting its resistance, accelerating charged and neutral particles in vacuum or in a gas, generating electromagnetic waves, modifying optical characteristics by electrooptical and photoelasic effects, generating piezoelectric deformation and more. We show that these EDEF induced effects could serve as a basis for the development of various applications and devices.

Combined optical and electrical effects in ferroelectric crystal for high laser intensities

“…Photogalvanic accelerators may have the advantage in comparison with the pyroelectric accelerators due to a non-contact method of crystal charging and the possibility to use both steady-state and pulse modes of operation. An interesting possibility for the increasing efficiency of the crystal photogalvanic accelerator is to use the holographically recorded periodic electrostatic structures in the crystal surface to guide and channel the electron's and ion's beams [22,23]. Contrast self-enhancement of the photogalvanic gratings [25] can be used to increase efficiency of the photogalvanic crystal accelerator.…”