MINIATURIZED NON-RADIOACTIVE ELECTRON EMITTER

摘要

A novel, compact non-radioactive electron emitter is provided with a cylindrical shape and with an interior space (6), which forms a vacuum chamber. A substrate (7) forms the bottom of the arrangement with a plurality of field emitter tips (5) formed of carbon nanotubes in the interior space (6). The tips are fastened to the substrate. A layer structure forms the cover of the arrangement, having, from the outside towards the interior space (6), an electrode layer (13), which acts as a counterelectrode and is applied to a gas-impermeable and electron-permeable membrane (10). A substrate (11), which is left open in the form of a window (12) in the area above the field emitter tips (6), acts as a carrier substrate for the membrane (10) and the electrode layer (13). A circumferential wall (14) of the arrangement is formed by an electrically insulating material. The field emitter tips (5) and the electrode layer (13) are connected to a d.c. power source, so that the electrons exiting from the field emitter tips (5) are accelerated through the vacuum chamber, window (12) and the membrane (10) towards the electrode layer (13), pass through the electrode layer (13) and enter the ionization area (3) outside the electron emitter (1, 1′).