Field Emission: Large Current Densities, Space Charge, and the Vacuum Arc

Field emission was obtained from a single crystal tungsten emitter under conditions of very high vacuum and clean surfaces. The geometry of the emitter was determined by electron microscopy permitting accurate calculation of both the surface electric field and an average current density. The use of pulse electronic techniques extended the observations to the upper limit of the current densities for which the normal field emission was stable. Above this limit an explosive vacuum arc occurred between electrodes. From these experiments the following conclusions were drawn. (1) The wave mechanical, image force corrected theory quantitatively predicted the observed average current density up to that density for which space charge dominated the emission. (2) Space charge was effective at a current density of the order of 10⁷ amperes/cm², where a marked deviation occurred from the usual current-voltage relationship. Space charge effects permitted the simultaneous operation of multiple emitting areas of differing geometries. (3) At a still higher critical current density in the range 10⁷ to 10⁸ amperes/cm², a field emission initiated vacuum arc occurred between electrodes resulting in a change of emitter geometry. Current density was the dominant criterion for the initiation of the vacuum arc.