Microprocessor-aided remoulding of field emitters

A device for remoulding tip-shaped field emitters is presented. It is described in the context of field electron emission, but many of its basic principles will apply to field ion emission as well. The system consists of two high tension cascades providing positive and negative high voltage, a device generating DC (constant or intermittent) for resistively heating the emitter, the microcomputer system and some additional protection circuits. First tests of the remoulding system in a simple field electron emission assembly are reported. A novel type of remoulding method is presented where the emitter is switched to field electron emission operation between heating pulses. This allows a better and faster control of the remoulding process. The normally desirable emission pattern consisting of only one single bright spot could be produced conveniently and quickly. Future possibilities for improving the system in terms of automating the remoulding process are discussed.