Gas desorption electron stimulated during operation of field emitter phosphor screen pairs

Gas desorption from field emitter array (FEA) cathode and phosphor screen a node in a flat panel display during lifetime operation can affect cathode e lectron emission and degrade display performance and uniformity. We have me asured the outgassing products from selected FEA-phosphor pairs in an ultra high vacuum system equipped with a calibrated quadrople residual gas analyz er. Different low voltage phosphors and blank anodes were studied. A Spindt -type FEA was used as the electron source. A unique carousel was used so th e desorption from all these different anodes could be measured without inte rvening vacuum breaks. this allowed the desorption from the different anode s to be directly compared to each other. Quantitative outgassing rates are given and the implications of the results for the pumping of the flat panel and emission from the FEAs an discussed. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.