Pyroelectricity Infrared detection Energy harvesting Wasted Commentary

Franz Ulrich Theodor Aepinus electromagnetism

Pyroelectricity

• Scientists documented hints
• of pyroelectricity for centuries.
• Theophrastus found that tourmaline
• attracted sawdust and bits of straw.
• Johann Georg Schmidt found it attracted ashes
• but only when they were hot.
• Louis Lemery noted that items attracted
• were repelled after contact.
• Then Franz Aepinus proved
• that these attractions and repulsions
• were related to electricity.

Infrared detection

• Because heat causes a voltage
• across opposite faces of a pyroelectric crystal
• it is used for thermal detectors and infrared imaging.

Energy harvesting

• Waste heat
• with a cold thermal reservoir
• and an oscillating working fluid
• can use the Olsen cycle
• with a pyroelectric material
• to generate a small
• amount of electricity.

Wasted

• Wasted time,
• wasted love,
• every sparrow that falls
• is precious
• as is
• a contemplative moment,
• a walk in the woods,
• a lesson learned.