Ferroelectric sources and their application to pulsed power: A review

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.602493· OSTI ID:522410

Fleddermann, C B ^[1]; Nation, J A ^[2]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
2. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

The authors present in this review an account of recent research into the use of ferroelectrics as electron beam sources for pulsed power applications. The work is reviewed according to the ferroelectric material used and the switching process employed. Most of the current research uses PLZT or PZT, which can be ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, or paraelectric depending on the stoichiometry. Switching is accomplished by the application of a fast-rising electric field to the ferroelectric material. The most commonly used materials are PLZT 2/95/5 and PLZT 8/65/35 or PZT (with no lanthanum): in the former case, the applied field switches the material from the antiferroelectric state to the ferroelectric state, and in the latter cases, around a hysteresis loop. Results have been reported with ferroelectric cathodes where current densities of up to a few hundred amperes per square centimeter have been achieved, with pulse durations of several microseconds. With shorter duration pulses and with PLZT cathodes, repetition rates of up to 2 MHz have been achieved. In this paper, they focus on the results reported in the literature, and include a brief account of the physical interpretation of the data. The possible use of ferroelectric sources for pulsed power applications is indicated.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 522410
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 25; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CATHODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON SOURCES
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SWITCHES
USES