Abstract: Disclosed is an electron-beam system comprised of an iris having an aperture of predetermined shape; a cathode for emitting electrons from an area which is substantially smaller than the aperture; a lens system for directing the emitted electrons along a path through the aperture to form a magnified image of the aperture; and a target for the electrons which is placed along the path of the aperture's demagnified shadow.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electron-beam cathode which emits electrons in a cone-shaped pattern whose electron density is substantially uniform throughout the cone. The cathode is comprised of a needle-shaped piece of single crystal tungsten having dopant atoms of zirconium and oxygen in the bulk thereof, and having only a single (100) surface on the needle's tip. This cathode is formed by the steps providing a needle-shaped piece of single crystal tungsten having dopant atoms of zirconium and oxygen in the bulk thereof, and having a plurality of ring-shaped (100) surfaces on the needle's tip; and subsequently transforming those surfaces into diagonally oriented planar surfaces by heating the needle in an atmosphere of oxygen to diffuse tungsten atoms from the needle's tip to its sides.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electron-beam cathode which emits electrons with a low work function over a relatively wide range of temperature and pressure. The cathode is comprised of single crystal tungsten having zirconium and oxygen dopant atoms within the bulk thereof. This cathode is formed by the steps of attaching zirconium to a portion of the surface of single crystal tungsten, and heating the tungsten with the zirconium attached thereto in an atmosphere of oxygen to diffuse the zirconium and the oxygen into the bulk of the tungsten.