Carbon nanotube-based digital vacuum electronics and miniature instrumentation for space exploration

H. Manohara; R. Toda; R. H. Lin; A. Liao; M. Mojarradi

doi:10.1117/12.844076

17 February 2010 Carbon nanotube-based digital vacuum electronics and miniature instrumentation for space exploration

H. Manohara, R. Toda, R. H. Lin, A. Liao, M. Mojarradi

Proceedings Volume 7594, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems IX; 75940Q (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.844076
Event: SPIE MOEMS-MEMS, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

JPL has developed high performance cold cathodes using arrays of carbon nanotube bundles that produce > 15 A/cm² at applied fields of 5 to 8 V/μm without any beam focusing. They have exhibited robust operation in poor vacuums of 10^-6 to 10^-4 Torr- a typically achievable range inside hermetically sealed microcavities. Using these CNT cathodes JPL has developed miniature X-ray tubes capable of delivering sufficient photon flux at acceleration voltages of <20kV to perform definitive mineralogy on planetary surfaces; mass ionizers that offer two orders of magnitude power savings, and S/N ratio better by a factor of five over conventional ionizers. JPL has also developed a new class of programmable logic gates using CNT vacuum electronics potentially for Venus in situ missions and defense applications. These "digital" vacuum electronic devices are inherently high-temperature tolerant and radiation insensitive. Device design, fabrication and DC switching operation at temperatures up to 700° C are presented in this paper.

Citation Download Citation

H. Manohara, R. Toda, R. H. Lin, A. Liao, and M. Mojarradi "Carbon nanotube-based digital vacuum electronics and miniature instrumentation for space exploration", Proc. SPIE 7594, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems IX, 75940Q (17 February 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.844076

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