Method and system for poling a ferroelectric medium

A system (1) for poling a ferroelectric medium (2) comprising a first side surface (6) and a second side surface (7) positioned opposite the first side surface (6) so that the ferroelectric medium (2) comprises a first volume segment (3) and a second volume segment (10),

• wherein the system, comprises:
• a mount for holding the ferroelectric medium (2) during operation of the system (1),
• a first electrical contact (11) comprising a first contact surface (12),
• wherein the first electrical contact (11) is arranged and positioned such that the first contact surface (12) can be applied to a first side surface section (8) of the first side surface (6) of the ferroelectric medium (2) held on the mount during operation of the system (1),
• a second electrical contact (13) comprising a second contact surface (20),
• wherein the second electrical contact (13) is arranged and positioned such that the second contact surface (20) can be applied to a second side surface section (9) of the second side surface (7) of the ferroelectric medium (2) received in the mount during operation of the system (1),
• an electrical voltage source,
• wherein the voltage source is connected to the first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (13) in such a way that, during operation of the system (1), a voltage can be applied between the first and second contact surfaces (12, 20),
• a current measuring device (14),
• wherein the current measuring device (14) is arranged and positioned in such a way that, during operation of the system (1), the current measuring device detects a measure of a current flowing between the first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (13) through the ferroelectric medium (2),
• an actuator,
• wherein the actuator is arranged and positioned such that during operation of the system (1) the actuator causes a relative movement between the first contact surface (11) and the mount, and
• a control and regulating device (16),
• wherein the control and regulating device (16) is operatively connected to the actuator in such a way that, during operation of the system (1), the actuator receives an actuator control signal from the control and regulating device (16),
• wherein the control and regulating device (16) is operatively connected to the current measuring device (14) in such a way that, during operation of the system (1), the control and regulating device (16) receives a measure of the poling current from the current measuring device (14),
• wherein the control and regulating device (16) is operatively connected to the voltage source (17) in such a way that, during operation of the system (1), the voltage source (17) receives a voltage control signal from the control and regulating device (16), and
• wherein the control and regulating device (16) is configured in such a way that during operation of the system (1), the control and regulating device (16) generates and outputs the actuator control signal in such a way that the first contact surface (12) sweeps the first side surface section (8) of the ferroelectric medium (2) held on the mount, and during operation of the system (1), the control and regulating device (16) generates and outputs the voltage control signal in such a way that a deviation of the value for the current from a value for a nominal poling current is minimised, and
• wherein the second electrical contact (13) is an ion conductor.