Cold Emission of Electrons in Spark Gaps

Abstract

STUDIES^1,2 of sparks in short gaps have shown that under suitable conditions breakdown can occur within times, after the application of the gap voltage, which are considerably smaller than those expected if the initial ionization in the gap were due only to natural processes such as natural radioactivity, cosmic rays, or the break-up of gaseous ions. It is clear, therefore, that there must be another source of initiatory electrons. There is, however, considerable doubt concerning the nature of these sources, and the mechanism of electron liberation from them.