Study of the frequency response of the thin film cold cathode electron source of a lighting element

Details of the recent experimental and theoretical studies of the frequency characteristic of the field emission electron source of a lighting element are given. The response times at different frequencies (0.02-200 kHz) and applied gap fields, acting on cathode surface, have been studied. A correla tion has been found to exist between the response time and the frequency of applied voltage pulse. The response time remains almost constant within a range of frequencies between 1 and 30 kHz, and it remains nearly constant w ith increasing applied gap field higher than the threshold field. Finally, the cutoff frequency of the electron source is found, and with the current design of the electron source, it can be as high as 40 kHz. An equivalent c ircuit model is proposed, and theoretical results based on this model agree well with experimental findings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.