Provided in the present disclosure is an electron emitting element 10 including a laminated structure in which a first electrode 1, an electron accelerating layer 6 made of an insulation film, a second electrode 3, and a cover film 7 are laminated in that order, in which the second electrode is an electrode which transmits electrons and emits electrons from a surface thereof, and the cover film is a film which transmits electrons, is a protective film made of a material different from that of the second electrode, and constitutes an electron emission surface 5.

Provided in the present disclosure is an electron emitting element 10 including a laminated structure in which a first electrode 1, an electron accelerating layer 6 made of an insulation film, a second electrode 3, and a cover film 7 are laminated in that order, in which the second electrode is an electrode which transmits electrons and emits electrons from a surface thereof, and the cover film is a film which transmits electrons, is a protective film made of a material different from that of the second electrode, and constitutes an electron emission surface 5.

Various methods and systems are provided for a cathode of an X-ray imaging system, the cathode comprising a cup and a ceramic insulator having a convex outer surface mating with corresponding pockets on the cup surrounding the ceramic insulator.

Some variations provide an electrochemical solid-state field-emission ion source comprising: (a) an ion conductor comprising a protuberance within a protuberance region, wherein the ion conductor contains mobile ions; (b) a first electrode disposed distally from the ion conductor, wherein the protuberance region is on the same side of the first electrode as the ion conductor; (c) a second electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated from the first electrode; and (d) an electrical insulator between the ion conductor and the first electrode. Some variations provide a method of electrochemically emitting ions from a field-emission ion source, comprising: applying an electrode potential between the first electrode and the second electrode; oxidizing or reducing the atoms in the atom reservoir, and transporting the atoms into and through the ion conductor as mobile ions; and emitting the mobile ions from the protuberance.

Some variations provide an electrochemical solid-state field-emission ion source comprising: (a) an ion conductor comprising a protuberance within a protuberance region, wherein the ion conductor contains mobile ions; (b) a first electrode disposed distally from the ion conductor, wherein the protuberance region is on the same side of the first electrode as the ion conductor; (c) a second electrode in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated from the first electrode; and (d) an electrical insulator between the ion conductor and the first electrode. Some variations provide a method of electrochemically emitting ions from a field-emission ion source, comprising: applying an electrode potential between the first electrode and the second electrode; oxidizing or reducing the atoms in the atom reservoir, and transporting the atoms into and through the ion conductor as mobile ions; and emitting the mobile ions from the protuberance.

A receptacle for receiving a plug connector of a high-voltage cable for a microfocus X-ray tube with a cathode, which has a metal filament and grid cap. The receptacle has a ceramic insulator with three contiguous cavities. The first cavity near the filament includes electrical contacts for the filament and the grid cap. The second cavity includes spring contacts for supplying current to the filament and a center pin for supplying voltage to the grid. The third cavity receives the plug connector. The insulator has a removable grid mounting which is conductively connected to the grid cap of the cathode. The first and second cavities are surrounded in the radial direction by the grid mounting. An air gap extends radially between grid mounting and ceramic body. At the end of the grid mounting remote from the filament is a circumferential groove in the axial direction between the grid mounting and the ceramic insulator.

A receptacle for receiving a plug connector of a high-voltage cable for a microfocus X-ray tube with a cathode, which has a metal filament and grid cap. The receptacle has a ceramic insulator with three contiguous cavities. The first cavity near the filament includes electrical contacts for the filament and the grid cap. The second cavity includes spring contacts for supplying current to the filament and a center pin for supplying voltage to the grid. The third cavity receives the plug connector. The insulator has a removable grid mounting which is conductively connected to the grid cap of the cathode. The first and second cavities are surrounded in the radial direction by the grid mounting. An air gap extends radially between grid mounting and ceramic body. At the end of the grid mounting remote from the filament is a circumferential groove in the axial direction between the grid mounting and the ceramic insulator.

Provided in the present disclosure is an electron emitting element 10 including a laminated structure in which a first electrode 1, an electron accelerating layer 6 made of an insulation film, a second electrode 3, and a cover film 7 are laminated in that order, in which the second electrode is an electrode which transmits electrons and emits electrons from a surface thereof, and the cover film is a film which transmits electrons, is a protective film made of a material different from that of the second electrode, and constitutes an electron emission surface 5.

Provided in the present disclosure is an electron emitting element 10 including a laminated structure in which a first electrode 1, an electron accelerating layer 6 made of an insulation film, a second electrode 3, and a cover film 7 are laminated in that order, in which the second electrode is an electrode which transmits electrons and emits electrons from a surface thereof, and the cover film is a film which transmits electrons, is a protective film made of a material different from that of the second electrode, and constitutes an electron emission surface 5.

A receptacle for receiving a plug connector of a high-voltage cable for a microfocus X-ray tube with a cathode, which has a metal filament and grid. The receptacle has a ceramic insulator with three contiguous cavities. The first cavity near the filament includes electrical contacts for the filament and the grid. The second cavity includes spring contacts for supplying current to the filament and a center pin for supplying voltage to the grid. The third cavity receives the plug connector. The insulator has a removable grid cap which is conductively connected to the grid of the cathode. The first and second cavities are surrounded in the radial direction by the grid cap, An air gap extends radially between grid cap and ceramic body. At the end of the grid cap remote from the filament is a circumferential groove in the axial direction between the grid cap and the ceramic insulator.