Development of a miniature cold-cathode electron gun

Summary form only given, as follows. Microwave Technologies Incorporated is developing a miniature cold cathode electron gun (MCEG) prototype as a potential replacement for conventional thermionic cathodes. The MCEG employs Pierce-type geometry and uses microscopic silicon cathode for the generation of a good-quality high-current-density electron beam. We will report on a MCEG proof-of-principle experiment which is designed for the generation of a 5 kV, 50 mA electron beam. The status of our test bed assembly and of our data acquisition system will be presented. We will also report on the experimental emission testing of different field-emitter-array cathodes tested in our system. When compared to conventional thermionic electron guns, the MCEG offers a substantial reduction in size and weight and avoids the use of heating elements. The electron gun prototype under development has an immense number of applications such as the next generation of microwave tubes, electron microscopes, high-definition television, spectrometers, flat panel displays, as well as industrial and medical accelerators.