45 3 v 1 1 5 Se p 20 05 Measurements and Simulation Studies of Piezoceramics for Acoustic Particle Detection ⋆

Calibration sources are an indispensable tool for all detectors. In acoustic particle detection the goal of a calibration source is to mimic neutrino signatures as expected from hadronic cascades. A simple and promising method for the emulation of neutrino signals are piezo ceramics. We will present results of measruements and simulations on these piezo ceramics. The active element of a transducer is a piezoelectric material. When an electric field is applied to the material, the polarized molecules are distorted in the electric field. This distortion causes the material to change its dimensions. This phenomenon is known as electrostriction or inverse piezoelectric effect. In addition, a permanently-polarized material such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) produces an electric field when the material changes dimensions as a result of an imposed mechanical force. This phenomenon is known as the piezo-electric effect. A piezoelectric material can be modeled by connecting Hooks law for anisotropic materials to the Gauss law for electrical displacement. This is described by tensor equations: