An investigation was made to study the dependence of the magnitude and
direction of the pyroelectric current on the internal biasing field a
nd natural unipolarity for both pure and doped TGS single crystals, Th
e effect of applying poling electric fields, both parallel and antipar
allel to the direction of the natural unipolarity, on the behavior of
pyroelectric current was also inspected. A negative pyroelectric curre
nt was observed during the second subsequent heating runs for pure TGS
crystal and for one, with Co+2 doping. For one pure sample, pyroelect
ric current followed the direction of the direction of the applied pol
ing field, white for another pure one taken from a neighboring site, t
his was not the case. Stronger electric fields were needed to overcome
the internal biasing field, in order that the pyrocurrent may be able
to follow up the direction of the poling field. On the other hand, fo
r a crystal doped with Co+2 ions, even a poling field of up to 4KV/cm
was not enough to overcome the internal field; the sample retained its
behavior. All the observed irregularities were attributed to the infl
uence of the internal field together with the crystal inhomogeneity.