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. 2018 Nov 7;8(1):16488.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34831-8.

Piezoelectric Accelerator

O O Ivashchuk  1 , A V Shchagin  2   3 , A S Kubankin  1   4 , I S Nikulin  1 , A N Oleinik  1   5 , V S Miroshnik  6 , V I Volkov  6
Affiliations

Piezoelectric Accelerator

O O Ivashchuk et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Here we propose the conception of small-size piezoelectric accelerator of charged particles that operates due to the piezoelectric effect at varying mechanical force applied to piezoelectrics in vacuum. The accelerating voltage and the energy of accelerated particles are estimated. In the proof-of-principle experiment we demonstrate the effect of the emission of X-ray radiation at the mechanical compression of piezoelectric ceramics in vacuum. The compression leads to the appearance of charges and potentials on the surfaces of the piezoelectrics and also to the arising of the electric field in vacuum. Electrons are accelerated in the electric field, strike the matter and produce the X-ray radiation. In the experiment, we have observed emission of the characteristic and bremsstrahlung X-ray radiation of energy up to 60 keV due to the compression of piezoelectric ceramics in vacuum. This means that electrons are accelerated in the piezoelectric accelerator up to the energy at least of 60 keV. The agreement of calculated and experimental data confirms the conception. Advantages of the piezoelectric accelerator and possibilities of its development and applications are discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The scheme of the experimental setup. The cylindrical assembly of two piezoelectric ceramic cylinders 1 with copper high-voltage electrode 3 is installed in vacuum chamber 4 between two metal grounded disks 2. The variable force F→ can be applied along the assembly axis through metal cylinders 5. The spectra of X-ray radiation are measured with X-ray detector 6. Mylar foil 7 is installed before the entrance window of the detector.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The spectra of X-ray radiation measured at a single compression of the assembly without corrections for registration efficiency of the spectrometer. Spectra were measured at the negative (a) and positive (b) potentials at the high-voltage electrode.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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