Electron Emission by Nanosecond Switching in PLZT,

Abstract

Copious electron emission from a PLZT ceramic surface takes place either when the surface is illuminated with laser pulses, or when short high-voltage pulses are applied. In the latter case, charge densities of up to 5 micron C/cm2 and current densities of some ten of amperes per square centimetre have been measured. Depending on the. position of the material in its phase diagram, different behaviour of the emission has been observed. Consequently the pulsed electron beam varies with respect to its pulse length, its amplitude, and its risetime. Further investigation of these data related to the corresponding material state might be a good diagnostic method, interesting for the switching dynamics in the ns-region. Moreover, a direct application as a pulsed Ferroelectric Electron Beam Source is envisaged, as the emission does, not rely on vacuum, but also works in low pressure gas or plasma. A maximum repetition frequency of 2 MHz has been established. An improvement of all data of the emitted electron beam seems feasible.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 05, 1991
Accession Number
ADP006680

Entities

People

  • Hartmut Gundel

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charge Density
  • Colorado
  • Current Density
  • Electron Beams
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • High Voltage
  • Laser Pulses
  • Materials
  • Phase Diagrams
  • Photoexcitation
  • Switching

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics