A cathode having a matrix body (1) impregnated with an alkaline earth compound, whose surface is provided with a top coat (2, 3, 4) comprising a high melting point metal, such as particularly tungsten, and scandium. A high emission at a low operating temperature and simultaneously a rapid recuperation after ion bombardment as well as a long lifetime are achieved in that the top coat comprises at least two layers of different composition, with a purely metallic layer (5, 6, 7) being provided on the impregnated matrix body (1), which layer comprises scandium and a high melting point metal such as particularly tungsten and/or rhenium, and in that a metallic layer of a high melting point metal such as particularly tungsten is provided as a sealing layer.