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Electron field emission from broad-area electrodes

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Abstract

In this review, measurements are surveyed for both dc and microwave electric fields. These show significant emission at applied fields typically 100 times smaller than those expected theoretically or measured experimentally for ideal microtip cathodes. Recent work is reviewed which studies on a microscopic scale this emission and the localized sites which produce it. Rather than forming sharp field enhancing projections, these sites often appear flat and are frequently associated with grain boundaries or insulating inclusions. Following an examination of various techniques for changing the emission of a given cathode, several theoretical models are considered which may explain some aspects of the observed emission characteristics.

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  1. R. J. Noer

    Present address: Department of Physics, Carleton College, 55057, Northfield, MN, USA

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  1. Département de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Université de Genève, 32, Boulevard d'Yvoy, CH-1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

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Noer, R.J. Electron field emission from broad-area electrodes. Appl. Phys. A 28, 1–24 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00617778

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