Laser-driven high-current-density pulsed electron emission from lead zirconium titanate ferroelectric ceramic

Laser driven high current density pulsed electron emission is observed from a lead zirconium titanate (PZT, Zr/Ti: 53/47) ferroelectric ceramic disk u sing second harmonic of neodium: glass laser (wavelength similar to 527 nm, pulse duration similar to3 ns, laser fluence similar to5-40 mJ/cm(2)) in t he presence of a dc extraction field. Apart from electron current pulses of similar to 100 A/cm(2) [full width at half maximum (FWHM) similar to 400 n s] obtained from laser irradiation of the surface towards the positive end of the polarization vector, electron current pulses of similar to 30 A/cm(2 ) (FWHM similar to1.1 mus) are also emitted from laser irradiation of the o pposite surface. Dependencies of various characteristics of the electron pu lse on laser fluence in the two configurations are presented. (C) 2001 Amer ican Institute of Physics.