Heartsound Audio Piezoelectric Crystals

 Crystals have unique vibrations and frequencies that can redirect energy flow and create an electric charge. Certain crystals can affect electricity in a few different ways, including the piezoelectric effect, the pyroelectric effect, and persistent photoconductivity. 

Piezoelectricity was first discovered in 1880 by two French scientist brothers Jaques and Pierre Curie. While experimenting with various crystals, the discovered that applying mechanical pressure to specific crystals like quartz released an electric charge. 

Piezoelectric effect happens when mechanical pressure is added to a piezoelectric crystal, its structure deforms and atoms shift, causing the crystal to conduct an electric current. For example, when a quartz crystal is compressed, it's negative and positive charges shift in opposite directions, creating a buildup of charge on the crystal's faces. If these faces are wired, the positively charged face will pull electrons from the wire, while the negatively charged face repels them. Bringing the ends of the wires close together can cause an electric spark to jump the gap.

Piezoelectricity has many practical uses, such as: generating sparks for gas cooking and heating devices, torches and cigarette lighters, triggering electric drums, even some pickups in electronically amplified guitars. They are used in scanning probe microscopes that can resolve images at an atomic scale. Also including the WWI hydrophone, which combined a quartz crystal transducer with two metal places and an underwater speaker. It's essential for storing electrical energy using diodes and capacitors and releasing it to power a light or LED. 

Breaking the symmetry of a crystal's structure can also induce other electric effects, such as the pyroelectric effect, which converts heat into electrical energy.

**A note about persistent photoconductivity ~ because  I think it's so cool :)

When strontium titanate crystals are heated under the right conditions, light can make them conductive, even at room temperature. 

Drop me a line at  www.heartsoundaudio.com

Hugs,


Krissy

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