Observation of permanent polarization distributions in bio-organic materials using a highly sensitive Scanning Pyroelectric Microscope

Bio-organic materials such as bones, teeth and tendon generally show pyro- and piezoelectric activity that implies the existence of macroscopic polarity. The first discoveries date from 1957 in the bones and tendon of both humans and animals and has led to the suggestion that the presence of spontaneous polarity might play a crucial role during morphogenesis and could facilitate other biological functions. This work is devoted to the use of a Scanning Pyroelectric Microscope being suitable to map two- or three-dimensional polarization distributions in dielectric materials via their pyroelectric response.