Electrical field admissible values for the classical field emitter regime in the study of large area emitters

Abstract

In this paper, a comparison of theoretical and experimental approaches to the study of large-area field electron emitters (LAFEs) was performed using the test for the correspondence of the measured volt-ampere characteristics to the ideal field emission mode (the test for “orthodoxy”). The ranges of permissible values of electric fields, which provide mainly field emission of electrons, are justified and calculated. The test for compliance with the field emission regime is integrated as one of the software modules into a computerized system for studying the emission characteristics of LAFE. The developed approach allows one to check directly in the course of the experiment whether the range of fields applied to the emitter corresponds to the “orthodoxy” criteria in a wide range of emission currents.