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Cathode Calibration Procedure
View the Calibration Procedure PDF
Proposed Calibration Procedure for Correct Initial Filament Current when using an APTech LaB6 or CeBix™ cathode.
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Bypass vacuum interlocks, disable high voltage.
-
Place load resistor across filament leads in gun chamber with an ammeter in line. Load resistor should
be equal to the resistance of the cathode at 1800 K (for example, 0.67 Ω, 15 watts, 1%). -
Probe transformer primary inputs outside HV tank on circuit boards.
-
Ramp up primary voltage with filament control knob until cathode’s 1800 K current is obtained on
ammeter (for example, 2.81 amps). Read primary voltage (V1800). This is the only calibration point that will be
useful, as the resistance of the cathode will change with temperature due to changes in the resistivity of
the pyrolytic graphite heater blocks. -
Install cathode, restore interlocks, pump down.
-
Ramp cathode slowly to primary V = V1800, ideally with HV set as low as system will allow. Initial
resistance of the cathode will be somewhat high due to oxidation of block-to-crystal interfaces. Do not
try to saturate or locate beam at this point. Let the cathode sit at V1800 for ~ 3 hrs to remove oxide and
stabilize resistance. -
Assume that at this point the resistance of the cathode is actually for example, 0.67 Ω and stable, and the filament
current is as expected (for example, 2.81 amps). -
Proceed with saturation procedures. Find correct bias setting to saturate beam without having to increase
the primary voltage beyond V1800. The recommended point for maximum brightness is just short of
saturation. Align beam, etc. -
Expect that brightness should be different than seen initially with the CeBix™ cathode, primarily due to a
lower temperature (assuming here that the CeBix™ cathode was initially running hotter than 1800 K).
