Cathode device with improved electron emitter contacting

A cathode device for an X-ray source, the cathode device comprising:

• an electron emitter including,
• a plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel to form an emission surface on an upper side of the plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel,
• a gate electrode, arranged above the emission surface,
• a multiple first contact elements for at least two independently current-carrying current paths of the electron emitter, electrons from at least one of the current paths are emittable depending on an emission voltage between the gate electrode and the emission surface via the field effect emitter elements;
• and
• an emitter seat including multiple second contact elements, the multiple second contact elements connectable with the multiple first contact elements for closing the current paths, wherein the multiple first contact elements are on a side of the plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel facing away from the emission surface.