Dielectric polarization relaxation measurement in α-SiO2 by means of a scanning electron microscope technique

A scanning electron microscope is used as a tool to study dielectric relaxation processes in α-SiO2 by measuring the leakage current in the sample surrounded by a metallic aperture. A transient time (tt) of the order of a few seconds appears before the steady-state current is established. The time dependence of the trapping rate is found to follow a power law and to be related to relaxation processes of a dielectric under electrical and thermal stress.