Focusing Anode for Cold-Cathode Electron Gun

摘要

This document discloses a focusing anode for a cold-cathode electron gun for exciting gas-filled lasers. In E-beam excitation of gas lasers the E-beam passes an electron-collecting aperture. The E-beam normally diverges so that all of the electrons do not pass through the aperture. By shaping the electrostatic field near the electron collecting aperture, the electrons are guided through the aperture. With a transparent grid-type anode having the shape of a section of a semi-cylinder, it has been determined that the number of electrons entering the laser cell is approximately four times higher than with a flat grid anode as presently used in the prior art. (Author)