A ballistic electron surface-emitting device (BSD) emitter that can be used in a field emission display (FED). The emitter being made of metallic carbon nanotubes extending in a direction that is normal to a surface of the cathode. The carbon nanotubes are designed so that electrons therein can experience a ballistic effect where the mean free path between collisions is as large or larger than a length of the carbon nanotube and that the width of the carbon nanotube being a fermi wavelength. On an opposite end of the carbon nanotubes is a thin metal electrode layer and a thin insulating layer to protect the carbon nanotubes from damage.