Shape of the Current Output Pulse from a Thin Ferroelectric Cylinder under Shock Compression

When a polarized ferroelectric element is traversed by a shock front that destroys the polarization, a current output appears. The shape of the curve of this current output versus time is computed in a normalized and general form for the case where the shock front moves in a direction normal or approximately normal to the electrodes and parallel to the polarization. The influence of the external electric load, of the dielectric constants and the hysteresis, of a conductivity in the compressed material, and of an oblique impact is discussed. The condition for maximum energy output also is discussed. Mathematical expressions for the current output are given for the various conditions, examples are calculated and shown in graphs. Methods are described for evaluating the dielectric constant in the compressed material from measured output curves.