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Pays tribute to applied physicist Dilip Kumar Das-Gupta, who died on January 5 2002. Educational and professional background; Contributions in the field of dielectric materials; Honors received.

A preface for the January 2006 issue of the journal "Ferroelectrics" is presented.

Direct current electrical poling of textured hydroxyapatite ( HAp) ceramics is reported here to exhibit weak ferroelectricity and pyroelectricity, but a remarkably higher (six orders of magnitude) piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric strain coefficient is an order higher than that of bone and of the same order as that of quartz crystal and uncalcified collagen in tendon. The piezoelectric charge coefficient is an order higher than bone, and three orders higher than that of tendon. Piezoelectric constants of poled HAp ceramics are high enough to have physiological relevance such as in the use of bone grafts for stimulated calcification or in energy harvesting from physiological motions. Piezoelectricity in these ceramics can be tuned by controlling texture, and poling parameters. The density of power that can be harvested from HAp ceramics is currently just one order lower than biocompatible ferroelectric ceramic such as barium titanate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution, large-area three-dimensional mapping of polarization profiles in electret polymers was carried out by means of a fast thermal pulse technique with a focused laser beam. A lateral resolution of 38 μm and a near-surface depth resolution of less than 0.5 μm was achieved. At larger depths, fast thermal diffusion in the metal electrode rather than the laser spot size becomes the limiting factor for the lateral resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modification of a technique for the measurement of the thermal diffusivity of thin solid materials is presented. The technique is called Thermal Diffusivity by Laser Intensity Modulation Method (LIMM-TD). It is based on the measurement of the phase retardation of a thermal wave passing through the test material by means of a lead-zirconate-titanate ceramic (PZT) pyroelectric detector. It is not necessary to know either the pyroelectric coefficient of the detector or the intensity of the laser beam. The method was tested on quartz samples to verify its accuracy. It was then applied to the study of several sets of ceramic samples with porosities of 20, 25, and 30%. One sample set was poled and the pores were partially filled with the fluid used during poling. A second set was not poled. The poled porous samples had thermal conductivities intermediate between that of a commercial dense sample and those of unpoled materials. Thermal diffusivities and conductivities were also measured on micron-thickness porous silica samples. The experimental results were compared with calculations using several composite mixing theories.

A new form of biomineralization has been studied in the pineal gland of the human brain. It consists of small crystals that are less than 20 microm in length and that are completely distinct from the often observed mulberry-type hydroxyapatite concretions. A special procedure was developed for isolation of the crystals from the organic matter in the pineal gland. Cubic, hexagonal, and cylindrical morphologies have been identified using scanning electron microscopy. The crystal edges were sharp whereas their surfaces were very rough. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that the crystals contained only the elements calcium, carbon, and oxygen. Selected area electron diffraction and near infrared Raman spectroscopy established that the crystals were calcite. With the exception of the otoconia structure of the inner ear, this is the only known nonpathological occurrence of calcite in the human body. The calcite microcrystals are probably responsible for the previously observed second harmonic generation in pineal tissue sections. The complex texture structure of the microcrystals may lead to crystallographic symmetry breaking and possible piezoelectricity, as is the case with otoconia. It is believed that the presence of two different crystalline compounds in the pineal gland is biologically significant, suggesting two entirely different mechanisms of formation and biological functions. Studies directed toward the elucidation of the formation and functions, and possible nonthermal interaction with external electromagnetic fields are currently in progress., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)