Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A solid state sub-nanometer-scale electron beam emitter comprising a nano-tip electron emitter and tunnel emission junction formed on substrate, an initial electron beam extraction electrode, and an electron beam lens wherein said electron beam lens includes a nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode and wherein said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode includes a lower primary electron beam acceleration electrode, an annular metal electrode, and an upper metal membrane electrode. 2. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said initial electron beam extraction electrode also forms said lower primary electron beam acceleration electrode of said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode. 3. The emitter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spacing layer disposed between said initial electron beam extraction electrode and said lower metal membrane and primary electron beam acceleration electrode of said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode. 4. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower primary electron beam acceleration electrode has a thickness between about 1 nanometer and about 10 nanometers, said annular metal electrode has a thickness between about 1 nanometer and about 10 nanometers, and said upper metal membrane electrode has a thickness between about 1 nanometer and about 10 nanometers. 5. The emitter as recited in claim 4, wherein said annular metal electrode has an opening through which electrons pass of between about 10 nanometers and about 100 nanometers in diameter. 6. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode comprises an interior region devoid of material and forming a nano-vacuum chamber. 7. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode comprises an interior region consisting essentially of an electron transparent material. 8. The emitter as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electron transparent protective layer disposed upon said nano-sandwich Einzel lens electrode. 9. The emitter as recited in claim 8, wherein said electron transparent protective layer consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of diamond, silicon nitride, and aluminum nitride. 10. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said emitter is formed with a substantially cylindrical shape. 11. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said substrate consists essentially of silicon. 12. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-tip electron emitter is embedded in a spacing layer that separates said nano-tip electron emitter from said initial electron beam extraction electrode. 13. The emitter as recited in claim 12, wherein said spacing layer consists essentially of diamond. 14. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-tip electron emitter is formed with a conical shape. 15. The emitter as recited in claim 14, wherein said nano-tip electron emitter extends from said substrate a distance of between about 20 nanometers and about 80 nanometers. 16. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-tip electron emitter comprises a tungsten tetrahedral tip. 17. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nano-tip electron emitter comprises a carbon nanotube. 18. The emitter as recited in claim 1, wherein said nanotip electron emitter comprises a C.sub.60 buckyball. 19. A solid state sub-nanometer-scale electron beam emitter comprising a nano-tip electron emitter and tunnel emission junction formed on substrate, an initial electron beam extraction electrode, and a protective layer disposed on said initial electron beam extraction electrode. 20. A nano-sandwich Einzel lens for directing an electron beam, said lens comprising a lower primary electron beam acceleration electrode, an annular metal electrode, and an upper metal membrane electrode. 21. The lens as recited in claim 20, wherein said lower primary electron beam acceleration electrode is separated from said annular metal electrode by a first electron transparent spacing layer and said annular metal electrode is separated from said upper metal membrane electrode by a second electron transparent spacing layer. 22. The lens as recited in claim 21, wherein said first electron transparent spacing layer and said second electron transparent spacing layer consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of diamond, silicon nitride, and aluminum nitride. 23. The lens as recited in claim 20, wherein an electron directing voltage is applied to said annular metal electrode. 24. The lens as recited in claim 20, wherein said annular metal electrode is unitary. 25. The lens as recited in claim 20, wherein said annular metal electrode is segmented into at least a first segment and a second segment. 26. The lens as recited in claim 25, wherein a first electron directing voltage is applied to said first segment of said annular metal electrode and a second electron directing voltage is applied to said second segment of said annular metal electrode. 27. The lens as recited in claim 25, wherein said annular metal electrode is segmented into four segments at approximately 90 degree intervals.