1961: Flexoelectricity - The book of science

Flexoelectricity
Crystal terms
Stored energy
Commentary

Kirill Tolpygo electromagnetism

Flexoelectricity

Kirill Tolpygo developed
a quantum-mechanical theory
of optical and elastic
properties of crystals.
Crystals in a lattice
deform under stress.
Kirill Tolpygo predicted
when they bend nonuniformly
then they generate
an electric field.

Crystal terms

Shells of ions in a dielectric crystal lattice can bend.
Ionic crystals, homopolar crystals, cryocrystals, molecular crystals.
Deformations can introduce Coulomb interactions.

Stored energy

A long rubber band powers my balsa glider.
I wind it until the band knots front to back.
Released, the glider soars through invisible air.
I am released from earth like a bird.
Its balsa, plastic propeller, and metal hooks
maintain static integrity until they hit the barn.
Everything’s dynamic, bending in space and time,
undergoing stresses while electrons are careening.

Rubber bands and balsa gliders have nothing to do with flexoelectricity (except metaphorically), since no part of the glider is a crystal and no operation of the glider generates an electric field.

See also in The book of science:

Readings in wikipedia:

“Kirill Tolpygo”
“Flexoelectricity”