| Numéro |
J. Phys. Colloques
Volume 48, Numéro C6, Novembre 1987
34th International Field Emission Symposium / 34ème Symposium International d'Emission de Champ
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| Page(s) | C6-177 - C6-182 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jphyscol:1987629 | |
J. Phys. Colloques 48 (1987) C6-177-C6-182
DOI: 10.1051/jphyscol:1987629
STEADY AND EXPLOSION MODES IN ELECTRON EMISSION FROM LIQUID METAL SOURCE
K. Hata1, S. Nishigaki1, M. Inoue1, T. Noda1 et H. Tamura21 Toyohashi University of Technology, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi 440, Japan
2 Hitachi Keisoku Techno-Research, 882 Ichige, Katsuta 312, Japan
Abstract
With a liquid metal electron source, we showed a possibility of steady field emission (SFE) at 33th IFES. In comparison with a pulsed explosive emission (EE) observed by Swanson and Schwind, it is important to know causes which determine the mode in the liquid metal electron emission. Through experiments of extracting electrons £rom a Ga-In-Sn liquid alloy with core tungsten tips of various radii of curvature, it was found that only the EE mode was observed with tungsten tips of apex radii above 10 µm. On the other hand, the SFE mode was obtained in weaker electric fields with those below 10 µm. The volume of liquid metal adhered to the solid tip to form a cone seems to be a main factor to determine the emission mode. In the SFE mode, the emission area estimated by the Fowler-Nordheim plot was heavily influenced by the volume of metal adhered to the tip, and it ranged from 10-10 to 10-14 cm2 for the tip with a apex radius of 0.2 µm.