Shock-Induced Electrical Polarization of Alkali Halides

Abstract

Electrical signals attributed to polarization of NaCl, KI, KCl, and CsI crystals shocked in the 10- to 40- kbar and 90- to 220- kbar ranges are described. The signals observed cannot be explained by the simplified models found in the literature, nor has correlation been established between the magnitude or polarity of the polarization signal and the crystal structure or the cation-to-anion mass ratio. There is some correlation with shock pressure for NaCl below 40 kbar. The signal shape is significantly different for shock compression along different crystallographic directions.