Tungsten Thermionic Emission as a Gauge for Low Pressures of Cesium Vapor

Abstract

Heated metal filaments under electric fields and low pressures of alkali metal gas eject electrons by thermionic emission as a function of the pressure of the gas and the temperature of the filament. To explore this process in a program to develop large-area alkali metal photocathodes, we have designed and built a gauge following the studies of Taylor and Langmuir. We present proof-of-principle measurements of the thermionic emission of a tungsten filament in cesium vapor. We describe a second-generation design that corrects flaws in the first gauge.

Keywords

• thermionic emission
• cesium pressure gauge
• tungsten work-function