Investigation of electrons and X-rays generated by a LiTaO3 single crystal accelerator driven by periodically varying temperature

The possibility of generating x-rays, electrons, positive ions and neutrons during the
change in the temperature of materials exhibiting a pyroelectric effect has been actively investigated in the last two decades. This phenomenon becomes possible because the charge can be accumulated on the surface of the pyroelectric sample. That charge becomes a source of the high electric field, and several mechanisms lead to particle generation and acceleration. The pyroelectric accelerators based on the pyroelectric effect are very promising for numerous applications with low power consumption. The main advantages of such devices are their compactness, lack of high voltage devices and radioactive materials. However, the stability of particle generation should be improved for practical purposes.
The main aim of this work is an experimental investigation of X-ray and electron
generation during pyroelectric effect in a single crystal of lithium tantalate (LiTaO3).
This thesis described the experimental setup to study particle generation using the
pyroelectric effect. The processes of electron and X-ray generation during periodic
variation temperature of the pyroelectric sample were comprehensively investigated.
The results of experiments, their analysis and conclusions on the further perspectives
of pyroelectric sources are given in this thesis.