Excitation of Short Infrared Pulses with High Repetition Rate by Electron Bombardment of Cuprous Oxide

Abstract

The infrared emission of Cu2O under electron-bombardment was investigated. Lamps containing an electron-bombarded Cu2O target emit a single band between 0.8 and 1.4 μ. They can be very accurately pulsed with the help of a built-in grid. The efficiency at 6500 v is about 4 to 5% of the electrical input. With improved cooling of the target such lamps should form a powerful source for repetitive μsec pulses of the near infrared spectral region which can be observed with photoemissive tubes and image converters.