A truncated-cone carbon nanotube cold-cathode electron gun

A concurrently high beam current and high current density carbon nanotube (CNT) cold cathode electron gun is herein developed. A radial electron source has been realized, formed from CNTs synthesized directly on the side walls of a stainless steel truncated-cone electron gun. Experimental results evidenced a 35 kV/50 mA electron beam can achieve a beam transparency of nearly 100% through the use of double anodes and crossed electric and magnetic fields. A maximum beam current density of 3.5 A/cm2 was achieved. These results demonstrate the potential impact of coupling novel cold cathode gun architectures and emerging nanomaterials and their collective role in augmenting the performance of incumbent electron gun technologies, alongside allowing for the realization new types of field emission vacuum electron radiation sources.