Effect of shock front geometry on shock depolarization of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 ferroelectric ceramics

By use of experimentation, we detected a shock wave geometry effect on the depolarization of poled Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 (PZT 52/48) ferroelectrics. It follows from the experimental results that shock front geometry is one of key parameters in the shock depolarization of PZT 52/48 ferroelectrics. This shock depolarization effect forms a fundamental limit to miniaturization of explosive-driven shock-wave ferroelectric generators (FEGs). Based on obtained experimental results, we developed miniature generators that reliably produce pulsed voltages exceeding 140 kV. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4732809]