High-current-density electron emission from lead zirconium titanate ferroelectric disc under application of short-duration high-voltage pulses

High-current-density pulsed-electron emission is observed from a poled lead zirconium titanate (PZT, Zr/Ti:53/47) ferroelectric ceramic disc on application of short-duration (∼6 ns) negative high-voltage (∼4 kV) pulses. Electron-emission pulses with a peak current density ∼400--450 A/cm² and a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) duration of ∼200--250 ns were recorded in the presence of a dc extraction field. These are comparable to the various earlier results obtained using excitation pulses of duration comparable to the polarization switching time (≥100 ns). Self-emission of electrons with a current density of ∼20--30 A/cm² was also observed. The experimental observations indicate occurrence of partial polarization reversal in the ferroelectric sample followed by plasma formation on the surface.