Investigation of field emission properties of laser irradiated tungsten
Abstract
Nd:YAG laser irradiation of Tungsten (W) has been performed in air at atmospheric pressure for four laser fluences ranging from 130 to 500 J/cm2. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed the formation of micro and nanoscale surface features including cones, grains, mounds and pores. Field emission (FE) studies have been performed in a planar diode configuration under ultra-high vacuum conditions by recording I-V characteristics and plotting corresponding electric field (E) versus emission current density (J). The Fowler-Nordheim (FN) plots are found to be linear confirming the quantum mechanical tunneling phenomena for the structured targets. The irradiated samples at different fluences exhibit a turn-on field, field enhancement factor β and a maximum current density ranging from 5 to 8.5 V/µm, 1300 to 3490 and 107 to 350 µA/cm2, respectively. The difference in the FE properties is attributed to the variation in the nature and density of the grown structures at different fluences.
- Publication:
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Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing
- Pub Date:
- January 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s00339-018-1612-7
- Bibcode:
- 2018ApPhA.124..180A