Improvement of infrared lights sensitivity on PZT emitter

We proposed a new electron emission type infrared light sensor and imager, which is used a principle of a field emission from a PZT thin plate. Previously, we reported the electron emission current was proportional to the incident infrared light energy and the 30% of the pyroelectric current was emitted to the vacuum. It is considered that increment of emission efficiency is important to increase its sensitivity. To increase emission efficiency, anode voltage dependence was studied. It is found that the emission current increased as the anode voltage increased. To applied electric field whole PZT surface, the surface of the PZT was polished flat. The emission efficiency increased two times from the unpolished one. On a pulsed infrared light irradiation, the electron emission phenomena from the PZT thin plate were confirmed. The emission current increased rapidly and decreased. Amplification of the emission electrons were tried to use MCP device. The emission electrons can be multiplied 40 times. It is found that the emission electron is observed under weak irradiation conditions.