Electron beam prebunching in planar cold cathodes with surface current carrying thin films

Abstract

Onset of current self-quenching in a metal/CdS/LaS cold cathode in the presence of inelastic scattering in the CdS layer Space-charge effects and current self-quenching in a metal/CdS/LaS cold cathode Electron beam prebunching by direct modulation of the electron current density emitted into vacuum is one of the potential advantages of cold cathodes. We develop a small alternating current signal equivalent circuit of planar cold cathode with negative electron affinity and current carrying thin films at the surface. For a specific InP/CdS/LaS cold cathode, device parameters and biasing conditions are found leading to large ͑60%͒ cathode current modulation at a frequency well within the K band.