X-ray source on the basis of the piroelectric crystal Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6

The properties of X-ray source based on Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 crystals (SBN-61) having a large pyroelectric coefficient γ = 85 nC/(cm2K) was studied. When the crystal was heated to 60 ° C, X-rays from a tungsten target with energy of 8.4 keV were detected. The maximum energy of the electron beam was 52 keV. The visualization of the electron beam with a grid electrode and a fluorescent screen showed that the electron beam was inhomogeneous in the polar plane of the crystal and varied during heating.The radiation intensity was unstable in time. The work of the X-ray source was limited to electrical breakdowns between the polar faces of the crystal. When the crystal was cooled, there was no X-ray emission, which could be due to the depolarization of the crystal by the total electric field or as a result of electrical breakdowns. The crystals SBN-61 and LiNbO3 are compared.