A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.

A field emission neutralizer is provided. The field emission neutralizer comprises a bottom plate and at least one field emission cathode unit located on the bottom plate. The field emission cathode unit comprises a substrate, a shell located on the substrate, a mesh grid, a shielding layer insulated and spaced from the mesh grid, and at least one cathode emitter located inside the shell, and insulated and spaced from the mesh grid. The cathode emitter comprises two cathode electrode sheets and a graphitized carbon nanotube structure, the graphitized carbon nanotube structure comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is clamped between the two cathode electrode sheets, and the second portion is exposed outside of the two cathode electrode sheets.

Disclosed embodiments include vacuum electronics devices and methods of fabricating a vacuum electronics device. In a non-limiting embodiment, a vacuum electronics device includes: an electrode; a first film layer disposed on the electrode about a periphery of the electrode; and a second film layer disposed on the first film layer, the second film layer including a plurality of electrically conductive grid lines patterned therein that are supported only at the periphery of the electrode by the first film layer.

Disclosed embodiments include vacuum electronics devices and methods of fabricating a vacuum electronics device. In a non-limiting embodiment, a vacuum electronics device includes: an electrode; a first film layer disposed on the electrode about a periphery of the electrode; and a second film layer disposed on the first film layer, the second film layer including a plurality of electrically conductive grid lines patterned therein that are supported only at the periphery of the electrode by the first film layer.

Image intensifiers may include a photocathode that emits photoelectrons in proportion to the rate photons impact the photocathode. The photoelectrons are multiplied using a microchannel plate that includes a plurality of microchannels. Photoelectrons are scattered by the microchannel plate when the photoelectrons strike the surface of the microchannel plate rather than enter one of the microchannels. Electron scatter within an image intensifier results in a halo or bloom around bright or luminous objects. Halo or bloom may be minimized by reducing the electron scatter within the image intensifier. Deposition of an anti-scattering layer on the surface of the microchannel plate within the image intensifier can absorb photoelectrons that fail to enter a microchannel and may thus reduce the incidence of halo or bloom.

Image intensifiers may include a photocathode that emits photoelectrons in proportion to the rate photons impact the photocathode. The photoelectrons are multiplied using a microchannel plate that includes a plurality of microchannels. Photoelectrons are scattered by the microchannel plate when the photoelectrons strike the surface of the microchannel plate rather than enter one of the microchannels. Electron scatter within an image intensifier results in a halo or bloom around bright or luminous objects. Halo or bloom may be minimized by reducing the electron scatter within the image intensifier. Deposition of an anti-scattering layer on the surface of the microchannel plate within the image intensifier can absorb photoelectrons that fail to enter a microchannel and may thus reduce the incidence of halo or bloom.

A vacuum transistor includes a substrate and a first terminal formed on the substrate. A piezoelectric element has a second terminal formed on the piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is provided over the first terminal to provide a gap between the first terminal and the second terminal. The gap is adjusted in accordance with an electrical field on the piezoelectric element.

A vacuum transistor includes a substrate and a first terminal formed on the substrate. A piezoelectric element has a second terminal formed on the piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is provided over the first terminal to provide a gap between the first terminal and the second terminal. The gap is adjusted in accordance with an electrical field on the piezoelectric element.

A method for making field emitter is provided. A carbon nanotube array and a cathode substrate are provided. A pressure is applied on the carbon nanotube array to make the carbon nanotubes of the carbon nanotube array toppled over and form a carbon nanotube paper. An adhesive tape is placed on the carbon nanotube paper, and then the adhesive tape is peeled off to make the carbon nanotube paper bonded to the adhesive tape. The cathode substrate is placed on the carbon nanotube paper; and then the cathode substrate is peeled off, at least part of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are bonded to the cathode substrate and perpendicular to the cathode substrate.