Experimental study of matrix carbon field emission cathodes and computer-aided design of electron guns for microwave power devices, exploring these cathodes

Experimental study of matrix carbon field emission cathodes (MCFEC) which has led to stable operation of the cathodes with emission current value up to 100 mA, is described. A method of computer-aided design of TWT electron guns (EC) with MCFEC, based on the results of the MCFEC emission experimental study is presented. The experimental MCFEC emission characteristics are used to define the field gain coefficient K and cathode effective emission area Seff. The EG program computes the electric field upon the MCFEC surface, multiplies it values by the K value and uses F-N law and the Seff value to calculate the MCFEC current; the electron trajectories are computed as well.