Call for experimental test of a revised mathematical form for empirical field emission current-voltage characteristics

2008/05/12 by Richard G. Forbes · 2 citations
Engineering · Materials Science · Mathematics · #Semiconductor materials and devices #Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques #Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research #Current (fluid) #Field electron emission #Voltage #Field (mathematics) #Constant current #Electron #Computational physics #Physics #Atomic physics #Thermodynamics #Mathematics #Quantum mechanics

paper · doi:10.1063/1.2918446

openalex publication_date 2008/05/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

There are now good theoretical reasons to believe that experimental current-voltage (i-V) relationships for cold field electron emission (CFE) should approximately obey the empirical law i=CVκexp(−B∕V), where B, C, and κ are effectively constant, and κ≠2. Since −dlni∕d(1∕V)=(V2∕i)di∕dV=B+κV, κ for a given emission situation could be experimentally established from an appropriate data plot if sufficiently accurate current-voltage measurements were available. Knowledge of experimental κ values could lead to greater physical understanding of CFE and variations as between materials. It is strongly urged that the feasibility of measurements of this kind be carefully explored.

Citations

• The effect of the image force on the emission and reflexion of electrons by metals
• Thermionic Emission, Field Emission, and the Transition Region
• �ber kalte und warme Elektronenentladungen
• Simple good approximations for the special elliptic functions in standard Fowler-Nordheim tunneling theory for a Schottky-Nordheim barrier
• Field Emission: Large Current Densities, Space Charge, and the Vacuum Arc
• Reformulation of the standard theory of Fowler–Nordheim tunnelling and cold field electron emission
• The Range and Validity of the Field Current Equation
• Physical properties of thin-film field emission cathodes with molybdenum cones
• Further studies in the emission of electrons from cold metals
• Electron emission in intense electric fields

Cited by

• Contact-induced doping in aluminum-contacted molybdenum disulfide
• Field electron emission [wikipedia]

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