A field emission cathode device and formation method involves a rotating field emission cathode including a field emission material deposited on a surface thereof, the field emission cathode rotating about an axis and being electrically connected to ground, and a planar gate electrode extending parallel to the surface of the rotating field emission cathode and defining a gap therebetween. A gate voltage source is electrically connected to the gate electrode and is arranged to interact therewith to generate an electric field, with the electric field inducing a portion of the surface of the rotating field emission cathode adjacent to the gate electrode to emit electrons from the field emission material toward and through the gate electrode.