Development of new PEA system using open upper electrode [pulsed electro-acoustic method]

The pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method has been widely used to observe the space charge phenomenon in dielectric materials. Since dielectrics have been sometimes used under specific atmospheres such as the space environment or plasma chamber, there have been demands to monitor the space charge phenomenon under irradiation of radioactive rays, or to observe the space charge behavior during plasma processing. Therefore, we have been developing a new PEA system to observe the space charge distribution under such specific conditions. This system, using an open upper electrode, is able to measure the phenomenon of surface charging as well as the internal space charge profiles.