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Pyroelectric effect induced by the built-in field of the p-n junction in the quantum paraelectric PbTe: experimental
A V Butenko1, V Sandomirsky, R Kahatabi
1Department of Physics, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
Abstract:
We report here the first observation of a pyroelectric effect in a nonpolar semiconductor. This effect originates in the temperature-dependent electric dipole of the PbTe p-n junction. The junction was illuminated by a chopped CO(2) laser beam, and periodic and single-pulse pyroelectric signals were observed and measured as a function of temperature, reverse bias voltage, and chopper frequency. The measured pyroelectric coefficient is approximately 10(-3) microC/cm(2) K in the region of 40-80 K. The theoretical model describes quantitatively all experimental features. The time evolution of the temperature inside the junction region was reconstructed.
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