Test Stand Design and Initial Results of Carbon Nanotube Cathodes for RF Sources

Since being discovered, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have held promise as a field emission source in cold cathodes due to their field-enhancing geometry. Sources used in large RF accelerator systems rely on thermionic emission cathodes that require external heating and complex thermochemical systems. Using CNTs as field emitters in cold cathodes could potentially reduce the cost, size, and complexity of RF sources for accelerators by enabling an emitter that is scalable to mass-manufacturability. This work will aim to improve the emission current density and reliability of CNTs emitters by using different growth processes to increase field enhancement at the CNT surface.