AuroraIndust said:Does anyone know of a good source for small electron guns? Just a simple one. I was using a TV CRT gun but the filaments don't last when exposed to atmosphere. I obviously operate under vacuum but I have no way to store my device in a vacuum for a long period.
A simple electron gun is a device that produces a beam of electrons that can be used for various applications, such as in television and computer displays, particle accelerators, and electron microscopes. It typically consists of a cathode, which emits electrons, and an anode, which accelerates and focuses the electrons into a narrow beam.
A simple electron gun works by applying a high voltage between the cathode and anode. This creates an electric field that causes electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode, forming a beam. The anode is usually shaped in a way that focuses the electrons into a narrow beam, and additional components, such as magnetic fields, may be used to further control and guide the beam.
The most common source used in simple electron guns is a heated filament, also known as a thermionic emitter. Other sources may include photocathodes, which use light to release electrons, and field emission sources, which use high electric fields to extract electrons.
Because electrons are highly susceptible to interactions with air molecules, simple electron guns require a vacuum environment for proper operation. This is typically achieved by using a vacuum chamber and pumps to remove air molecules. Other solutions may include using getter materials, which absorb residual gases, and using cryogenic temperatures to reduce the number of air molecules.
Simple electron guns have a wide range of applications, including in television and computer displays, where they are used to create images by manipulating the electron beam onto a phosphor-coated screen. They are also used in electron microscopes to produce magnified images of small objects and in particle accelerators to generate and manipulate beams of charged particles for research purposes.