Pyroelectric Materials as Electronic Pulse Detectors of Ultraheavy Nuclei

The thermal impulse produced along the path of an ultraheavy nucleus (e.g., uranium) moving in a pyroelectric material is shown to generate a fast electronic current pulse. Detectors have been made utilizing the pyroelectric response of polyvinylidene fluoride and lithium tantalate. The theory behind this new class of charged particle detectors and experimental results are presented. Polyvinylidene fluoride detectors may become useful in large-area space experiments for detection and trajectory determination of ultraheavy nuclei.