Stress induced polarization currents and electromagnetic emission from rocks and ionic crystals, accompanying their deformation

Abstract

A crucial question of the scientific community nowadays, concerns the existence of electric signals preceding earthquakes. In order to give a plausible answer to this question, we carried out two kinds of laboratory experiments of uniaxial deformation of ionic crystals and rock samples: a) In the first kind, stress induced polarization currents are detected and recorded. Our experimental results showed not only the existence of stress induced polarization currents before the fracture of the samples, but the possibility of the propagation of these signals, as well, through conductive channels, for distances much longer than the source dimensions. b) In the second, acoustic and electromagnetic signals are detected and recorded in the frequency range from 1 KHz to some MHz. The mechanism of generation of these signals is shown to be different for those emitted from piezoelectric and from non-piezoelectric materials. A plausible model is also suggested, on the compatibility of our laboratory results with the processes occuring in the earth during the earthquake preparatory stage. © European Geosciences Union 2004.