Computing a textbook of crystal physics

Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - 06:00 in Physics & Chemistry

Disturbing a material's crystal lattice can create a charge imbalance that leads to a voltage across the material. This phenomena, called the "piezoelectric effect," was first demonstrated in 1880 by Jacques and Pierre Curie in materials such as quartz, topaz and Rochelle salt. Today, piezoelectricity is recognized as a valuable property and the market for piezoelectric materials is rapidly expanding with applications that encompass a variety of technologies, ranging from medical imaging to sonar to energy harvesting.

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