Comparison of velvet- and cesium iodide-coated carbon fiber cathodes

Author

Shiffler, D. ; LaCour, M. ; Golby, K. ; Sena, M. ; Mithcell, M. ; Haworth, M. ; Hendricks, K. ; Spencer, T.

Author_Institution

Air Force Res. Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA

Volume

29

Issue

3

fYear

2001

fDate

6/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

445

Lastpage

451

Abstract

Presents results of an experimental comparison of a velvet cathode- and a carbon fiber cathode-coated with cesium iodide (CsI) salt. Each cathode had a planar geometry, with similar emission areas. The cathodes were tested at electric field strengths of 50 kV/cm at anode-cathode (A-K) gaps of 4.0 cm. The applied voltage had a 1-μs duration and the pulser was operated at up to a 1-Hz repetition rate. The system had a low base pressure (<1.0×10^-7 torr). This paper reports the results and comparisons of experiments on each cathode. We address the current and voltage characteristics, the shot-to-shot reproducibility, the pressure evolution of the diode under 1-Hz operation, and the lifetime of the cathodes

Keywords

caesium compounds; carbon fibres; cathodes; electron guns; microwave diodes; microwave tubes; 1 Hz; 1 mus; 4 cm; C; CsI; CsI-C; CsI-coated C fiber cathodes; anode-cathode gaps; applied voltage; cathode lifetimes; current characteristics; diode; electric field strengths; emission areas; lifetime; planar geometry; pressure evolution; repetition rate; shot-to-shot reproducibility; velvet cathodes; voltage characteristics; Carbon dioxide; Cathodes; Diodes; Electron beams; Electron tubes; Explosives; Geometry; Reproducibility of results; Surface impedance; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.928942

Filename

928942