Saturation of Spontaneous Polarization Charge in Pyroelectric Crystals of LiNbO3, LiTaO3 and CsNO3 at Low Temperature Above 4.2 K

TL;DR

This study investigates how the spontaneous polarization charge in LiNbO3, LiTaO3, and CsNO3 pyroelectric crystals saturates at low temperatures above 4.2K, revealing a temperature-dependent saturation behavior.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of polarization charge saturation in pyroelectric crystals at low temperatures, a phenomenon not previously well characterized.

Findings

Polarization charge rate slows down at low temperatures

Saturation occurs above 4.2K, above liquid helium temperature

Different crystals reach saturation at different temperatures

Abstract

Experimental observations of the change in the polarization charge of pyroelectric crystals of LiNbO3, LiTaO3 and CsNO3, as the temperature of the crystal is changed from about 300K to a lower limit of 4.2K, are described. It was found that the rate of change of the polarization charge slowed down considerably and, perhaps, reached a zero rate of change. The onset of this saturation of the polarization charge occurred at low temperatures, above the temperature of liquid helium, which were different for each of the three types of crystal.