Modification of the dispenser cathode surface with a pulse plasma

When producing electronic vacuum devices an urgent problem is to improve the output cathode parameter, i.e. to increase the thermoionic emission current density, the cathode life duration and the secondary electron emission coefficient. A new technique of the surface cathode treatment with a pulse plasma is suggested to improve the emission cathode parameters. The original and pulse plasma irradiated dispenser cathode surfaces are studied by electron microscopy. It is clear that the original surface has a pronounced microrelief. The treated surface exhibits a mesh structure improving thermoionic and secondary emission cathode characteristics. The secondary emission has increased 1.5 fold. The work function has decreased by 0.15 eV.