Dispenser Cathodes

Over fifty years ago Spectra-Mat, Inc. recognized the need for thermionic emitters for high power electron tubes: the development of these emitters was accomplished by utilizing a porous tungsten matrix impregnated with barium aluminate. When heated, the cathodes provide low work function electron emission. Dispenser cathodes are used where low temperature, high current density electron emission is desired.
Spectra-Mat, Inc. has vertically integrated production of dispenser cathodes, from finely sifting the tungsten powders and preparing the impregnant mixture in house untill the test of the cathodes in the vacuum environment before shipment. Thanks to recent investment in equipment, Spectra-Mat, Inc. is able also to machine and manufacture large area cathodes as well as manufacture e-guns with dispenser cathodes under customer’s design.
Applications
Magnetrons
Gyrotrons
Klystrons
TWTs
Xray tubes
Linear accelerators
e-Guns
Gas Lasers
Specialty high intensity lamps
Tera Hertz sources
Plasma sources
e-beam photolithography equipment
Electron microscopes
e-beam sterilization equipment
e-beam curing and cross linking of polymers and lacqueres
e-beam curing of printing inks
e-beam induced deposition and induced etching
e-beam food preservation
Room temperature e-beam air contamination abatement
Neutron generators
Download Technical Bulletins
Dispenser Cathode Products
Dispenser Cathode
Handling & Activation of Dispenser Cathodes
Emission Characteristics of Coated Cathodes
Guidelines for Dispenser Cathode Activation
Filament Power Supply Recommendation