High-energy electron impact apparatus utilizing a simple diode electron gun assembly

An electron impact facility based on a ribbon filament cathode, simple diode gun, and thin aluminium foil window is described. The facility is designed for the study of gas phase electron impact phenomena at pressures up to one atmosphere in a variety of gases. Of particular interest is the simple design of the electron gun for generating electron beams having energies up to 100 keV and currents up to 5 mA. The beam is magnetically collimated and directed through a thin aluminium foil which is used as the vacuum-gas interface to an impact chamber. Maximum power delivered to the impact region depends on the thickness of the foil window. Using an 8.4 μm thick aluminium foil, approximately 150 W can be delivered to the impact chamber. Thermal heating of the foil by the electron beam is the limiting factor restricting higher effective power transmission. (Author)