CURIE, JACQUES et PIERRE. - THE DISCOVERY OF PIEZOELECTRICITY.

Développement, par pression, de l'èlectricité polaire dans les cristaux hémièdres à faces inclinées. Note de MM. Jacques et Pierre Curie, présentée par M. Friedel.

Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1880. 4to. No wrappers. In: "Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences", Tome 91, No 5 (entire issue offered). Pp. 251-310. The Curie's paper: pp. 294-295.

First apperance of the paper in which the two brothers announced their discovery of the Piezoelectric Effect, as they observed how an electric potential appeared across crystals of quartza and of Rochelle salt when pressure was applied to them. The potential varied directly with the pressure, and they named the phenomenon Piezoelectricity, meaning "to press" (Greek). Crystals with piezoelectric properties form an essential portion of sound-electronics devices such as microphones and record-players.

"The applications of piezoelectric crystals are innumerable; one of the most important is their use in frequency stabilization of oscillating electromagnetic cirasciots for radio broadcasting stations. They are used in most piezometers for measuring with great precision either very strong pressure variations, such as those of a cannon at the moment of firing, or very weak ones, such as artery pulsations. These applications have led to the creation of a new industry, the manufacture of large "mono" such as quartz obtained hydrothermally around 500°C. under high water pressures, or crystals such as Rochelle salt, obtained from aqueous solutions. These two substances were mentioned in the Curie brothers’ report announcing the discovery of piezoelectricity." (DSB).

"The first experimental demonstration of a connection between macroscopic piezoelectric phenomena and crystallographic structure was published in 1880 by Pierre and Jacques Curie. Their experiment consisted of a conclusive measurement of surface charges appearing on specially prepared crystals (tourmaline, quartz, topaz, cane sugar and Rochelle salt among them) which were subjected to mechanical stress. These results were a credit to the Curies' imagination and perseverance, considering that they were obtained with nothing more than tinfoil, glue, wire, magnets and a jeweler's saw." (Piezo Systems, Inc.).

Magee "A Source Book in Physics", p. 547 ff.

Order-nr.: 47008