Carbon-Nanotubes Field Emitter to be Used in Advanced X-ray Source

The European project AXIS aims at fabricating an innovative X-ray source based on a field emitting CNT cathode. The basic components of such a source which determine the final properties have been presented here, i.e., the CNT cathode, the extractor AND THE ELECTRON OPTICS,. The results show that good control of the emission properties can be achieved, in agreement with electron trajectory simulations. These encouraging results form the basis for the realization of a source with improved brilliance, better stability, and pulsed operation.