Measurement of electrostrictive strains in PMN-based materials

The induced microscopic and macroscopic strains of commercial-grade Pb(Mg/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)O/sub 3/ samples due to electric fields (up to 1 kV/mm) were measured. X-ray diffraction was used to determine the microscopic response of individual crystallites in the ceramic. The strain gauge technique was used to assess the macroscopic strain of the bulk ceramic. These measurements along with the polarization of the material can be used to quantify the maximum strain and electromechanical coupling achievable.