An improved getter device and method for forming a calcium-rich getter thin film in an electronic vacuum device is disclosed. The getter device includes a powder of a Ca--Ba--Al ternary alloy composed of between 53% and 56.8% by weight of aluminum, from 36% to 41.7% by weight of calcium and from 1.5% to 11% by weight of barium. The method allows the formation of a calcium-rich getter thin film with a substantially reduced amount of released hydrogen in the vacuum device.