High-current Field Emitter Arrays for Directed Energy Weapons

CCR will team with SRI International to develop high current field emission arrays for high power RF source. The Phase I program will utilize a combination of analytical calculation, computer simulation, and experimental verification to study various approaches and determine their effectiveness in achieving the program goals. The technical objective of the Phase I program will be to develop field emission array (FEA) cathodes with stable current at each emission site over an area greater than 1 square mm. The stability will be sufficient to avoid self destruction from over-current at a single location. The devices must function properly in environments encountered in deliverable vacuum structures. The Phase II program will extend FEA capability to currents exceeding 1 A over 1 sq cm with uniform emission for use in deliverable, high power, RF sources.