SOURCE software for the simulation and design of electron guns

Abstract

Our SOURCE software handles 2D simulation and design of electron guns, including thermionic, thermal field and cold field emission guns, with electrostatic and magnetic focusing. The fields are computed by Second-Order Finite Element Method, which can handle large scale changes, curved cathodes and electrodes. Space charge effects are modeled by iterative solution of Poisson's equation. The program predicts source size and position, brightness, spherical and chromatic aberration. Recent enhancements include effects of secondary and back-scattered electrons, asymmetry aberrations due to tolerancing errors, N-body simulation of discrete Coulomb interactions, including energy and lateral broadening. The software runs in a Graphical User Interface, and post-processing features include through-focal plots of spot size, current density distributions, and emittance diagrams. The software handles a wide range of guns, from high-power klystrons to guns with Carbon Nanotube field emitters.