Experimental study of electron guns for TWT of terahertz range

This paper presents the results of experimental testing of diode electron guns with sheet and multiple electron beams based on thermionic minicathodes for TWT of terahertz frequency range. The results of study in pulse mode of impregnated thermionic blade cathode with linear dimensions 0.1×0.7 mm with a current density of 114 A/cm
²
are presented. A version of the five-beam electron gun is proposed with cylindrical minicathode with diameter of 0.25 mm, placing under the cells of control grid, achieved a current density of 85.5 A/cm
²
at grid voltage of 900–1000 V.