Displaying a bright future [vacuum microelectronics]

Recent technical and market advances have created a resurgence of interest in miniature vacuum devices based on field-emission vacuum microelectronics. For several operational conditions, these new devices have inherent advantages over their solid-state counterparts. Vacuum microelectronic devices are less sensitive to temperature variations, provide high-speed switching capabilities, and are less susceptible to radiation damage. In addition, electron beams can be steered with external electric and magnetic fields, and electron devices are capable of operation with high current densities. In this article, we describe the development of this new generation of vacuum microelectronic devices and showcase some exciting applications arising from this technology, ranging from flat-panel displays to electron beam devices.