STAR MICROWAVE HAS DESIGNED A SPACE GUN WHICH IS BASED ON THE USE OF THE SPINDT THIN FILM FIELD EMISSION CATHODE DEVELOPED BY SRI.

STAR MICROWAVE HAS DESIGNED A SPACE GUN WHICH IS BASED ON THE USE OF THE SPINDT THIN FILM FIELD EMISSION CATHODE DEVELOPED BY SRI. A TWO INCH DIAMETER ELECTRON BEAM IS MADE UP OF AN HEXAGONAL ARRAY OF 100 ROUND BEAMLET WHICH ARE PRODUCED BY FIELD EMISSION FROM A SINGLE WAFER. EACH BEAMLET CARRIES 1/2 AMP OF CURRENT, FOR A MAXIMUM TOTAL OF 50 AMPS, AT THE MODEST EMISSION DENSITY OF 5 AMPS/SQ CM. THE BEAMLETS ARE FOCUSED INTO SPACE THROUGH A GRIDDED NON-INTERCEPTING ANODE. THE GUN REQUIRES NO FILAMENT POWER. FULL BEAM MODULATION (0 TO 5 AMPS/SQ CM) REQUIRES A TOTAL VOLTAGE SWING OF ABOUT 40 VOLTS. THE GUN CAN BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMODATE AN ANODE VOLTAGE OF TENS OF KV. THE OBJECTIVES OF PHASE I ARE TO FIRST ESTABLISH A SPECIFICATION FOR THE GUN AND DEFINE ITS OPERATING ENVIRONMENT. THE DESIGN WILL THEN BE REFINED, THROUGH USE OF COMPUTER SIMULATION, TO MEET THE SPECIFICATION. FEASIBILITY AND SPECIFICATION COMPLIANCE WILL THEN BE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH TESTING OF A BEAMLET ARRAY USING A STANDARD SRI FIELD EMISSION WAFER.