A Miniaturized Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Field Emission Cathode With RF Excited by Coaxial Resonant Cavity

A miniaturized radio frequency (RF) excited grid-free field emission cathode made by single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is suggested and studied. The λ/4 coaxial resonant cavity is used as field-emitted electron source with length of 26.5 mm and diameter of 12.8 mm. Electrons can be pulled out by a small electrostatic field and an RF electric field without interception. The RF electric field of inner conductor surface at the open end, which pasted SWCNTs, can reach 3 MV/m when the input power is 30 W, and the field is larger than the turn-on field of SWCNTs. The results of simulation and experiment both show that the maximum emission current under input RF power of 30 W is 30 times larger than without RF excitation, which can reach 24 mA at the anode voltage of 950 V. This miniaturized RF excited grid-free field emission cathode electron source can be used as electron source, in a high repetition frequency vacuum electronic devices, e.g., terahertz (THz) devices, and X-ray tubes.