COLD-CATHODE FIELD-EMISSION ELECTRON SOURCE INCLUDING RARE-EARTH HEXABORIDE

摘要

A cold-cathode field-emission electron source to which a rare-earth hexaboride has been applied and which is prevented from being damaged or deteriorated by chemical reactions, has excellent durability, and can be used for long.The cold-cathode field-emission electron source emits electrons by means of a high electric field, and is characterized in that a single-crystal nanofiber of a rare-earth hexaboride has been attached to the surface of an electron-source support needle. The cold-cathode field-emission electron source is further characterized in that the electron-source support needle is constituted of a material which undergoes no chemical reaction at the connecting section between the electron-source support needle and the single-crystal nanofiber of a rare-earth hexaboride even when the cold-cathode field-emission electron source heats up to a high temperature.