Abstract:
Provided is a Schottky emitter having the conical end with a radius of curvature of 2.0 μm on the emission side of an electron beam. Since a radius of curvature is 1 μm or more, a focal length of an electron gun can be longer than in a conventional practice wherein a radius of curvature is in the range of from 0.5 μm to not more than 0.6 μm. The focal length was found to be roughly proportional to the radius of the curvature. Since the angular current intensity (the beam current per unit solid angle) is proportional to square of the electron gun focal length, the former can be improved by an order of magnitude within a practicable increase in the emitter radius. A higher angular current intensity means a larger beam current available from the electron gun and the invention enables the Schottky emitters to be used in applications which require relatively high beam current of microampere regime such as microfocus X-ray tube, electron probe micro-analyzer, and electron beam lithography system.
Abstract:
An exemplary electron emission device includes an electron emitter, an anode opposite to and spaced apart from the electron emitter, a first power supply circuit, and a second power supply circuit. The first power supply circuit is configured for electrically connecting the electron emitter and the anode with a power supply to generate an electric field between the electron emitter and the anode. The second power supply circuit is configured for electrically connecting the electron emitter with a power supply to supply a heating current for heating the electron emitter whereby electrons emit therefrom. Methods for generating an emission current with a relatively higher stability also are provided.
Abstract:
A thermionic electron source includes a substrate, two electrodes, and a thermionic emitter. The thermionic emitter is electrically connected to the two electrodes. The substrate has a recess formed on a surface thereof, and the thermionic emitter is located on the surface of the substrate corresponding to the recess.
Abstract:
An electron source is made from mixed-metal carbide materials of high refractory nature. Producing field-enhanced thermionic emission, i.e., thermal-field or extended Schottky emission, from these materials entails the use of a certain low work function crystallographic direction, such as, for example, (100), (210), and (310). These materials do not naturally facet because of their refractory nature. The disclosed electron source made from transition metal carbide material is especially useful when installed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) performing advanced imaging applications that require a high brightness, high beam current source.
Abstract:
A thermionic electron source includes a substrate, two electrodes, and a thermionic emitter. The thermionic emitter is electrically connected to the two electrodes. The substrate has a recess formed on a surface thereof, and the thermionic emitter is located on the surface of the substrate corresponding to the recess.
Abstract:
An exemplary electron emission device includes an electron emitter, an anode opposite to and spaced apart from the electron emitter, a first power supply circuit, and a second power supply circuit. The first power supply circuit is configured for electrically connecting the electron emitter and the anode with a power supply to generate an electric field between the electron emitter and the anode. The second power supply circuit is configured for electrically connecting the electron emitter with a power supply to supply a heating current for heating the electron emitter whereby electrons emit therefrom. Methods for generating an emission current with a relatively higher stability also are provided.
Abstract:
A thermionic electron emission device includes an insulating substrate, and one or more grids located thereon. The one or more grids include(s) a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads located on the periphery thereof, and a thermionic electron emission unit therein. The first and second electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The third and fourth electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The first and second electrode down-leads are insulated from the third and fourth electrode down-leads. The thermionic electron emission unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a thermionic electron emitter. The first electrode and the second electrode are separately located and electrically connected to the first electrode down-lead and the third electrode down-lead respectively. Wherein the thermionic electron emitter includes a carbon nanotube film structure.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an x-ray tube including a hybrid electron emission source, which uses, as an electron emission source, a cathode including both a field electron emission source and a thermal electron emission source. An x-ray tube includes an electron emission source emitting an electron beam, and a target part including a target material that emits an x-ray as the emitted electron beam collides with the target part, wherein the electron emission source includes a thermal electron emission source and a field electron emission source, and emits the electron beam by selectively using at least one of the thermal electron emission source and the field electron emission source.