Piezoelectric material (source code)

= Piezoelectric material

A <piezoelectric material> couples mechanical deformation with electric polarization. In a linear small-signal description, one convention writes $D_i=d_{ijk}\sigma_{jk}+\epsilon_{ij}E_j$: applied stress contributes to electric displacement. The converse effect produces strain when an <electric field> is applied.

A quartz element can generate an electrical signal under mechanical loading, while an applied alternating voltage can drive a mechanical resonance. This reciprocity makes piezoelectric materials useful for sensors, actuators and <frequency> control. The coefficients depend on direction and crystal symmetry; an isotropic scalar coefficient cannot describe every orientation of a single crystal.