A prototype of the electron beam source with laser cathode heating is presented. Application of the principle of its operation allows to control the current of the source electrons by modulating the power of the cathode heating laser. The power of the laser radiation is transmitted through a vacuum, which facilitates the electrical isolation of the laser from the cathode, which is under the high accelerating voltage of the gun. The main parameters of the prototype of the electron beam source with laser heating of the electron gun cathode are measured:

● the dependence of the cathode current and the rise time of the cathode current from the level 0.1 to the level of 0.9 on the cathode heating power;

● the size of the beam profile at its half-height;

● size of the electron emission region from the cathode.