Ferroelectric Thick Film in Insulator Sleeve on a Low Energy Plasma Focus

The effect of ferroelectric lead germanate Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁ thick film in the alumina insulator sleeve of a 400 Joules Mather-type plasma focus device is studied. The breakdown phase along the insulator is fundamental for the formation of a homogeneous and symmetric current sheath. For over several hundreds electrical discharges, the different films show good mechanical and electric performance. From the beginning, the drive system operation is highly reproducible, shot to shot, with a clear definition of the plasma pinch on the axis of discharge. The influence grade of the electron emission from ferroelectric is experimentally studied.