Studying the field emission cathode–gate structure based on carbon nanotubes for electron-optical systems with a sheet beam

Abstract

Results of studying the cathode–gate structure based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are presented. Experimental samples of a matrix field emission cathode–gate structure based on a vertical array of CNTs with a cell diameter of 1 μm and microstructure period of 5 μm have been manufactured. Based on experimental data, an electron-optical system with a ribbon-type field emission CNT based cathode with a linear convergence of 6.25 and beam-current density of 4.46 A/cm² has been proposed. Results of modeling a sheet 0.16-mm-thick electron beam formed by an electron gun with a CNT cathode demonstrated the possibility to obtain a low-perveance flow with a small deformation in the 0.3 × 0.8-mm beam tunnel of a slow wave 25-mm-long structure.