High current density, reservoir cathodes for high frequency applications

Abstract

Sintered tungsten wire, reservoir cathodes offer high current density operation with very long life time. The diffusion rate can be selected consistent with the current emission density. This presentation will describe the impact of this technology and present the latest test results.

Study of a 0.35 THz Extended Interaction Oscillator Driven by a Pseudospark-Sourced Sheet Electron Beam

“…8 (b). When the current density is lower than 3×10 7 A/m 2 , the time required for oscillation build-up would exceed the PS discharge time. The effects of the conductivity of the copper on the Pout and oscillation startup time were also simulated and are shown in Fig.…”

“…However, increasing the operating frequency to the THz region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the dimension of the device decreases dramatically, which results in a significant reduction in cathode current. Increasing the electron emission current density is a potential solution, however, it is challenging for the thermionic cathode which has a current density typically less than 100 A/cm 2 [1,7,8]. The pseudospark (PS) discharge system can produce a high-intensity electron beam pulse with beam current density up to 10 4 A/cm 2 and brightness up to 10 12 A/(m 2 •rad 2 ) [9][10][11][12].…”