An electron tube includes a housing that is internally held in a vacuum and has a window transmitting an electromagnetic wave, an electron emitting unit that is disposed in the housing and has a meta-surface emitting electrons in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave, an electron multiplying unit that is disposed in the housing and multiplies the electrons emitted from the electron emitting unit, and an electron collecting unit that is disposed in the housing and collects the electrons multiplied by the electron multiplying unit. The window contains at least one selected from quartz, silicon, germanium, sapphire, zinc selenide, zinc sulfide, magnesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, barium fluoride, calcium fluoride, magnesium oxide, and calcium carbonate.

An ultraviolet flame detector (100) includes a housing (102) having an opening (103) at a first end (101a) of the housing (102), and a window structure (104) arranged to cover the opening (103) of the housing (102). A photocathode (106) is arranged to a second end (101b) of the housing (102) so that the photocathode (106) is facing inside the housing (102). An anode wire (108) is arranged between the window structure (104) and the photocathode (106). The anode wire (108) is configured to travel transversally across the housing (102). The ultraviolet flame detector (102) is filled with a gas.

An ultraviolet flame detector (100) includes a housing (102) having an opening (103) at a first end (101a) of the housing (102), and a window structure (104) arranged to cover the opening (103) of the housing (102). A photocathode (106) is arranged to a second end (101b) of the housing (102) so that the photocathode (106) is facing inside the housing (102). An anode wire (108) is arranged between the window structure (104) and the photocathode (106). The anode wire (108) is configured to travel transversally across the housing (102). The ultraviolet flame detector (102) is filled with a gas.

A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.

A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.

A photocathode 4 includes an optically transparent conductive layer provided between a translucent substrate and a photoelectric conversion layer. The optically transparent conductive layer is formed of a constituent material including carbon. A Raman spectrum of the constituent material has a peak of a band, a peak of a band, a peak of a band, and a peak of a band.

A transmission mode photocathode comprises: an optically transparent substrate having an outside face to which light is incident, and an inside face from which the light incident to the outside face side is output; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed on the inside face side of the optically transparent substrate and configured to convert the light output from the inside face into a photoelectron or photoelectrons; and an optically-transparent electroconductive layer comprising graphene, and disposed between the optically transparent substrate and the photoelectric conversion layer.

A transmission mode photocathode comprises: an optically transparent substrate having an outside face to which light is incident, and an inside face from which the light incident to the outside face side is output; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed on the inside face side of the optically transparent substrate and configured to convert the light output from the inside face into a photoelectron or photoelectrons; and an optically-transparent electroconductive layer comprising graphene, and disposed between the optically transparent substrate and the photoelectric conversion layer.

This invention concerns a photo-cathode for a vacuum system, wherein the photo-cathode is configured for receiving electromagnetic radiation having an incoming wavelength and for emitting electrons in response thereto. The photo-cathode comprises a conducting structure having a geometry, the geometry comprising a tip section. The tip section is adapted to provide field enhancement, β, when the conducting structure is illuminated with the electromagnetic radiation, wherein β is greater than about 10.sup.2. The photo-cathode further comprising a substrate, the substrate being or comprising a dielectric substrate, the substrate supporting the conducting structure.

A photocathode 4 includes an optically transparent conductive layer provided between a translucent substrate and a photoelectric conversion layer. The optically transparent conductive layer is formed of a constituent material including carbon. A Raman spectrum of the constituent material has a peak of a band, a peak of a band, a peak of a band, and a peak of a band.