A repetitive pulsed electronhyphen;emission mode has been observed from a liquid Ga/12percnt; In cathode. Current pulses as high as 250 A with a 2hyphen; to 3hyphen;nsec rise time have been observed at a repetition rate of 40 to 80thinsp;000 pps. Emission occurs from the apex of a fieldhyphen;stabilized cone of the liquid metal which exhibits an incandescent glow corresponding to a temperature rise of sim;1000thinsp;deg;C. A fieldhyphen;emissionhyphen;initiated explosivehyphen;emission process is proposed which involves the formation of a plasma via the volatilization of a small portion of the cone apex.
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