Study of field electron emission properties of commercial graphite cathodes in pulse-repetitive mode

Abstract

The article considers field emission cathodes from industrial graphites MG, MPG-7, and GMZ operated in the pulse-periodic mode with the pulse repetitionrate of 1 to 30 Hz. The operation of field emitters in the pulsed mode differs from operation at a constant voltage. Under stabilization of the high potential level, the amplitude of the pulses of the emission current decreases that leads to increasing the operating voltage in the pulsed mode. During operation of the graphite cathode (when the pulse current is recorded), the operating voltage at the anode stabilizes and oscillates within 5%. Operation in the direct current mode under similar conditions is accompanied by a change in the voltage value by more than 10 %.