Ferroelectric Cathode Measurements

Abstract

We have recently initiated an investigation of electron emission from ferroelectric cathodes. our experimental apparatus consisted of an electron diode and a 250 kV, 12 ohm, 70 ns pulsed high voltage power source. A planar triode modulator driven by a synthesized waveform generator initiates the polarization inversion and allows inversion pulse tailoring. Our initial measurements indicate that emission current densities above the Child-Langmuir Space Charge Limit, JCL, are possible. We explain this effect to be based on a non-zero initial energy of the emitted electrons. We also determined that this effect is strongly coupled to relative timing between the inversion pulse and application of the main anode-cathode pulse. We also have initiated brightness measurements of the emitted beam and estimate a preliminary lower bound to be on the order of 10 to the 9th power A/m2-rad2 for currents close to JCL and factor of two less at currents over 4JCL. We describe our apparatus and preliminary measurements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA638908

Entities

People

  • C. L. Holmes
  • D. O. Trimble
  • D. Prosnitz
  • E. J. Lauer
  • G. A. Westenskow
  • G. J. Caporaso
  • S. Sampayan

Organizations

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Base Pressure
  • Brightness
  • Coaxial Cables
  • Current Density
  • Electricity
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Emitters
  • Energy
  • Inversion
  • Measurement
  • Polarity
  • Polarization
  • Pulsed Power
  • Space Charge
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster