Investigations of pyroelectric generation of x rays

Experiments to study the influences of the environment, external to pyroele ctric crystals, on certain measurements to discern the properties of crysta ls, such as LiTaO3, LiNbO3, and CsNO3, are discussed. During increasing tem perature and at appropriate pressures electrons in the vacuum system are ac celerated to the -z base of the pyroelectric crystal and are repelled from the +z base of the crystal. The electrons striking the crystal may have suf ficient energy to excite x-ray absorption edges of the elements in the crys tal and the electrons repelled to a target may have sufficient energy to ex cite x-ray absorption edges in the elements of the target. During decreasin g temperature electrons in the vacuum system are repelled from the -z base whereas the electrons are accelerated to the +z base. The light produced, a ssociated with the pyroelectric effect, appears to come from recombination processes in the gases in the vacuum chamber. The polarization charge produ ced during the change of temperature of the crystals appears to follow the changing temperature in a reproducible manner. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)05513-9].