Field Emitter Array RF Amplifier Development Project Phase One, Cathode Technology Development

Abstract

Key ideas include: (1) Develop microstructural field emission diodes with a cutoff frequency above 1 GHz, 5A/sq. cm at 200 V G-E bias, and >100 hr lifetime; (2) Reduce capacitance and increase transconductance of FEA devices to improve frequency response; (3) Evaluate various anode configurations including vacuum microencapsulation to permit testing of larger numbers of sample FEA devices; and (4) Model and characterize our versions of the FEA device. Major accomplishments includes: (1) Gated field emitter-on-a-column structures with low capacitance have been successfully fabricated; (2) Two isotropic silicon emitter etches have been successfully explored; (3) Early versions of field emission triodes which have been vacuum micro-encapsulated have been built successfully; (4) A microstrip packaging design methodology has been designed to null capacitance in FEAs for narrow band, high frequency applications; and (5) Testing of silicon tips with various surface treatments has produced one possible low voltage (approx. 10V)/high transconductance (>100 microS) FE diode design.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA280335

Entities

People

  • Ching-tzong Sune
  • Gary W. Jones

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplifiers
  • Angular Momentum
  • Bandwidth
  • Capacitance
  • Contracts
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electron Tubes
  • Electronic Components
  • Emission
  • Field Emission
  • Frequency
  • North Carolina
  • Power Spectra
  • Radio Frequency Amplifiers
  • Thin Films
  • Vacuum
  • Work Functions

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Semiconductor Device Technology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems