Development of a realtime detector to hypervelocity microparticles using PZT ceramics

Detector characteristics of disk-shaped piezoceramic elements were studied by irradiating with silver and carbon microparticles. A mass of particles ranged from 0.01 to 100 pg, and whose velocity from 2 to 20 km/s. We observed characteristic pulse signals when the particles were collided with the element. Carbon projectiles generated a bipolar-type sharp peak, whereas silver projectiles did not show such a distinct form. For silver, the pulse amplitude increased with increasing particle energy. A possible application as a realtime detector of micrometeoroids and space debris is discussed.