Field Emission in Vacuum Microelectronics [Paperback]

Field emission is a phenomenon described by quantum mechanics. Its emission capability is millions times higher than that of any other known types of electron emission. Nowadays this phenomenon is experiencing a new life due to wonderful applications in the atomic resolution microscopy, in electronic holography, and in the vacuum micro- and nanoelectronics in general. The main field emission properties, and some most remarkable experimental facts and applications, are described in this book.Field emission is a phenomenon described by quantum mechanics. Its emission capability is millions times higher than that of any other known types of electron emission. Nowadays this phenomenon is experiencing a new life due to wonderful applications in the atomic resolution microscopy, in electronic holography, and in the vacuum micro- and nanoelectronics in general. The main field emission properties, and some most remarkable experimental facts and applications, are described in this book.Foreword. Historical Overview. 1: Field emission from metals. 1.1. Fowler-Nordheim theory. 1.2. Thermal-field emission. 1.3. Elaboration theory of the field emission theory from metals. 1.4. Resume. 2: Characteristic features of field emission in very high electric fields and high current densities. 2.1. Deviations from the Fowler-Nordheim theory in very high electric fields. 2.2. Space charge influence on field emission. 2.3. Influence of space charge of relativity electrons on field emission. 2.4. About the potential barrier shape in strong electric fields. 2.5. Resume. 3: Maximum obtainable field emission current densities. 3.1. Theoretical limit of field emission current. 3.2. Effects preceding field emitter explosion. 3.3. Heating as the cause of field emission cathode instabilities. 3.5. Highest field emission current densities achieved experimentally. 3.6. Resume. 4: Field emission in a microwave field. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. The condition of adiabaticity - tunlã