Electric Field Effects in Alpha Lead Azide Single Crystals Using Au-Au Contacts

Abstract

The response of single crystals of alpha-lead azide to moderately high electric fields has been investigated using Au contacts in a configuration that minimizes surface currents. Initiation is observed to occur at a threshold electric field of approximately 35,000 V/cm. Initiation cannot be attributed to bulk joule heating. The possibility that a space-charge-limited single carrier injection regime occurs at fields below the threshold field is assessed and tentatively rejected. Other possible mechanisms for the current voltage characteristics and for the observed field initiation are briefly discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA018753

Entities

People

  • D. S. Downs
  • M. Blais
  • T. Gora
  • W. L. Garrett

Organizations

  • Picatinny Arsenal

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Energy Bands
  • Equations
  • Explosions
  • Explosives
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Lead Azides
  • Military Research
  • Single Crystals
  • Space Charge
  • Static Electricity
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thermal Diffusivity

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Regression Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster