High current density results from a LaB6 thermioniccathode electron gun

A Pierce-type electron gun using a planar 1.9-cm-diameter lanthanum hexaboride cathode is being studied as a robust thermionic emitter at high cathode-current densities. The gun has been operated up to voltages of 115 kV, achieving beam current densities of 30 A/cm² . The electron gun operated dependably up to 90 kV, achieving temperature-limited currents of 50 A. Due to the high fields at the tip of the Pierce-focusing electrode, the gun would usually arc at voltages >90 kV. Ten shots were obtained at a gun voltage of 115 kV, achieving transmitted currents up to 89 A, transmitted beam power up to 10.2 MW, and transmitted power densities up to 3.4 MW/cm²