A 10 GHz tuned amplifier based on the SRI thin-film field-emission cathode

Author

Lally, P.M. ; Nettesheim, E.A. ; Goren, Y. ; Spindt, C.A. ; Rosengreen, A.

Author_Institution

Teledyne MEC, Palo Alto, CA, USA

fYear

1988

fDate

11-14 Dec. 1988

Firstpage

522

Lastpage

525

Abstract

The authors discuss the design of a compact X-band-tuned amplifier based on the field-emitter array cathode developed by C. A. Spindt and coworkers (1979, 1983). The Spindt cathode has been shown to be capable of producing current densities of several hundred amperes per square centimeter of cold emission from densely packed arrays of field-emitter tips. This compares with a typical value of 2.5 A/cm/sup 2/ for a thermionic cathode. The results of life-test experiments on the field-emission cathode presented. It is concluded that the properties of the Spindt cathode can provide the basis for a generation of microwave amplifiers of high frequency, moderate power, and possibly low cost.<>

Keywords

cathodes; electron field emission; microwave amplifiers; microwave tubes; SHF; SRI thin-film field-emission cathode; Spindt cathode; cold emission; compact X-band-tuned amplifier; current densities; densely packed arrays of field-emitter tips; design; field-emission cathode; field-emitter array cathode; high frequency; life-test experiments; low cost; microwave amplifiers; moderate power; Cathodes; Costs; Current density; Frequency; High power amplifiers; High power microwave generation; Microwave amplifiers; Microwave generation; Power generation; Transistors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Electron Devices Meeting, 1988. IEDM '88. Technical Digest., International

Conference_Location

San Francisco, CA, USA

ISSN

0163-1918

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEDM.1988.32869

Filename

32869