The Nature of Field Emission From Microparticles and the Ensuing Voltage Breakdown

摘要

In recent years there has been much progress in furthering our understanding of the sources of field emission as well as in tracting the stages from field emission to voltage breakdown. These advances come from microscopic studies (scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, Auger spectroscopy) of field emitters located by DC high voltage scans as well as from field emitters found in microwave cavities. Craters, residues and starbursts found at breakdown sites reveal much about the physics of voltage breakdown. Both experiments and computer simulations show the important role played by gases generated by field emission induced heating.