Abstract:
An emitter has an electron supply and a porous cathode layer having nanohole openings. The emitter also has a tunneling layer disposed between the electron supply and the cathode layer.
Abstract:
An improved thermionic electric converter uses a wire grid cathode to provide a larger surface area for electrons to boil off. Alternately or additionally, the larger electron emission surface area can be achieved by using a curved electron emission surface. A laser provides quantum interference to electrons just before they reach the anode, thereby lowering their energy levels such that they more readily are captured by the anode. The arrangement provides improved conversion efficiency and reduced electron scatter.
Abstract:
In a method for producing a micro vacuum tube, a dent and an etching stopper layer are formed on one surface of a mold substrate. An emitter layer is deposited on the etching stopper layer and the mold substrate is removed so that the emitter layer has a protuberance covered with the etching stopper layer. Further, a gate electrode layer is formed on the etching stopper layer and the gate electrode layer and the etching stopper layer covering a tip of the protuberance is removed. An interposed insulator layer is formed on the gate electrode layer and the tip of the protuberance and an anode electrode layer is formed on the interposed insulator layer. The interposed insulator layer between the tip of the protuberance and the anode electrode layer is removed so that a space is formed between the tip and the anode electrode layer.
Abstract:
A vacuum transistor having an optical gate in which an optical signal is radiated from the optical gate. The transistor has a silicon substrate; an insulating layer deposited on said silicon substrate, the insulating layer having a recess portion formed by an etching method; an optical source for radiating the optical signal and serving as said optical gate; and two electrodes formed on said insulating layer and separated from each other under a vacuum or an atmosphere. One of the electrodes receives the optical signal and is an electron emitting electrode for emitting electrons, and the other electrode is an electron collecting electrode for collecting the electrons emitted from said electron emitting electrode. The electron emitting electrode is formed beneath said optical source under a vacuum or an atmosphere and is connected to ground; and said electron collecting electrode is connected to a power source. The amount of current flowing in said electron collecting electrode may be adjusted by the intensity of the optical signal from said optical source. The mobility of electrons between the electron emitting electrode and the electron collecting electrode is further improved owing to a vacuum state or an atmosphere state of the electron transferring path.