Abstract
Non-destructive methods for measuring electric charge and polarization in solid dielectric materials have been set up in recent years. Their common principle is related to the influence charges which appear at the electrodes of a sample containing space charge. When the material is submitted to an external disturbance, the influence charges vary, giving birth to a transient current or voltage signal, from which charge density and electric field distributions across the sample can be calculated. The use of adapted stimuli, which do not alter the electrical state of the sample, allows monitoring the time evolution of the charge. The most employed methods, based on pressure or thermal stimuli, are briefly reviewed in this paper. A thermal technique, namely the Thermal Step Method, is brought in sharper focus. Results obtained on materials and structures for electrical and electronic applications are presented.