No description available.

Thesis (M.S. in Applied Physics)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Colson, William B. ; Blau, Joseph. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 28, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Free-electron lasers, FEL simulations, undulators, FEL oscillators, FEL amplifiers, diamond field-emitter arrays, field emission cathodes, cathode test cell. Includes bibliographical references (p. 45). Also available in print.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 1997

We have developed a thermionic cathode capable of high emission currents. The structure of this cathode is oxide coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a tungsten (W) substrate. This cathode was superior in emission due to the combination of the field enhancement effect from the CNTs and the lowered work function from the semiconducting oxide surface. Such oxide coated CNTs were excellent electron emitters. Conventional electron emission theories, such as Richardson's and Fowler-Nordheim's, did not accurately describe the field enhanced thermionic emission from such emitters. A unified electron emission theory was adopted and numerical simulations were performed to explain the deviation of electron emission from conventional field and thermionic emission theories. Also, the thermionic measurement system and measurement methods were improved in order to measure and characterize the strong electron emission from this new cathode. Large electron emission current from such structures also made a new thermionic cooling device a possibility. Cooling due to the electron emission was measured in terms of temperature drop, and a large temperature drop was observed from this cathode structure. Finally, applications of this cathode in plasma discharge devices were explored. This new cathode was tested in a plasma environment and initial results were obtained. / Department of Physics and Astronomy

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

The current technological age is embodied by a constant push for increased performance and efficiency of electronic devices. This push is particularly observable for technologies that comprise free electron sources, which are used in various technologies including electronic displays, x-ray sources, telecommunication equipment, and spacecraft propulsion. Performance of these systems can be increased by reducing weight and power consumption, but is often limited by a bulky electron source with a high energy demand. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show favorable properties for field electron emission (FE) and performance as electron sources. This dissertation details the developments of a uniquely designed Spindt type CNT field emission array (CFEA), from initial concept to working prototype, to specifically prevent electrical shorting of the gate. The CFEA is patent pending in the United States. Process development enabled fabrication of a CFEA with a yield of up to 82%. Furthermore, a novel oxygen plasma etch process was developed to reverse shorting after CNT synthesis. CFEA testing demonstrates FE with a current density of up to 293 μA/cm² at the anode and 1.68 mA/cm² at the gate, with lifetimes in excess of 100 hours. A detailed analysis of eighty tested CFEAs revealed three distinct types of damage. Surprisingly, about half of the damaged chips are not electrically shorted, indicating that the CFEAs are very robust. Potential applications of this technology as cathodes for spacecraft electric propulsion were explored. Exposure to an operating electric propulsion thruster showed no significant effect or damage to the CFEAs, marking the first experimental study of CNT field emitters in an electric propulsion environment. A second effort in spacecraft propulsion is a collaboration with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). CFEAs are the payload on an AFIT developed Cube Satellite, called ALICE, to test electron emission in the space environment. ALICE has passed flight tests and is awaiting launch scheduled for 5 December 2013.