The present invention improves sensitivity of the ultraviolet band of a photoelectric surface. A photoelectric surface includes a window material that transmits ultraviolet rays, a conductive film that is formed on the window material and has conductivity, an intermediate film 4 that is formed on the conductive film and is formed of MgF.sub.2, and a photoelectric conversion film that is formed on the intermediate film 4 and is formed of CsTe. Since the photoelectric surface includes the intermediate film 4 formed of MgF.sub.2, the sensitivity of the ultraviolet band is improved.

The present invention improves sensitivity of the ultraviolet band of a photoelectric surface. A photoelectric surface includes a window material that transmits ultraviolet rays, a conductive film that is formed on the window material and has conductivity, an intermediate film 4 that is formed on the conductive film and is formed of MgF.sub.2, and a photoelectric conversion film that is formed on the intermediate film 4 and is formed of CsTe. Since the photoelectric surface includes the intermediate film 4 formed of MgF.sub.2, the sensitivity of the ultraviolet band is improved.

A photocathode can include a body fabricated of a wide bandgap semiconductor material, a metal layer, and an alkali halide photocathode emitter. The body may have a thickness of less than 100 nm and the alkali halide photocathode may have a thickness less than 10 nm. The photocathode can be illuminated with a dual wavelength scheme.

A photocathode can include a body fabricated of a wide bandgap semiconductor material, a metal layer, and an alkali halide photocathode emitter. The body may have a thickness of less than 100 nm and the alkali halide photocathode may have a thickness less than 10 nm. The photocathode can be illuminated with a dual wavelength scheme.

A photoelectric tube includes a housing including a light transmitting portion, an electron emitting portion held by a recess provided in the housing, the electron emitting portion including a concave photoelectric surface facing a light transmitting portion side inside the housing, and an electron capturing portion disposed between the light transmitting portion and the photoelectric surface inside the housing. At least a part of the electron capturing portion is located inside a region on an inside of the photoelectric surface.

A photoelectric tube includes a housing including a light transmitting portion, an electron emitting portion held by a recess provided in the housing, the electron emitting portion including a concave photoelectric surface facing a light transmitting portion side inside the housing, and an electron capturing portion disposed between the light transmitting portion and the photoelectric surface inside the housing. At least a part of the electron capturing portion is located inside a region on an inside of the photoelectric surface.

An electron source system utilizing photon enhanced thermionic emission to create a source of well controlled electrons for injection into a series of lenses so that the beam can be fashioned to meet the particular specification for a given use is disclosed. Because of the recent increased understanding and characterization of the bandgap in certain materials, a simplified system can now be realized to overcome the potential barrier at the surface. With this system, only low electric fields with moderate temperatures (500 C.) are required. The resulting system enables much easier focusing of the electron beam because the random component of the energy of the electrons is much lower than that of a conventional system. The system comprises an emitter of wide bandgap material, a first light source and a heating element wherein the heating element provides moderate warming to the wide bandgap material and the light source provides photonic excitation to the material, causing electrons to be emitted into an optical system to manipulate the emitted electrons.

An electron source system utilizing photon enhanced thermionic emission to create a source of well controlled electrons for injection into a series of lenses so that the beam can be fashioned to meet the particular specification for a given use is disclosed. Because of the recent increased understanding and characterization of the bandgap in certain materials, a simplified system can now be realized to overcome the potential barrier at the surface. With this system, only low electric fields with moderate temperatures (500 C.) are required. The resulting system enables much easier focusing of the electron beam because the random component of the energy of the electrons is much lower than that of a conventional system. The system comprises an emitter of wide bandgap material, a first light source and a heating element wherein the heating element provides moderate warming to the wide bandgap material and the light source provides photonic excitation to the material, causing electrons to be emitted into an optical system to manipulate the emitted electrons.

A photoelectric tube includes a housing including a light transmitting portion, an electron emitting portion including a photoelectric surface disposed inside the housing, an electron capturing portion disposed between the light transmitting portion and the photoelectric surface inside the housing, and a conductive layer disposed on a light transmitting portion side of at least a part of the electron capturing portion to face the photoelectric surface inside the housing and configured to allow light to pass therethrough.

A photoelectric tube includes a housing including a light transmitting portion, an electron emitting portion including a photoelectric surface disposed inside the housing, an electron capturing portion disposed between the light transmitting portion and the photoelectric surface inside the housing, and a conductive layer disposed on a light transmitting portion side of at least a part of the electron capturing portion to face the photoelectric surface inside the housing and configured to allow light to pass therethrough.