EFFECTS OF STATIC-FIELD PENETRATION AND ATOMIC POLARIZATION ON CAPACITY OF A CAPACITOR FIELD EVAPORATION AND FIELD IONIZATION PROCESSES

Both static-field penetration and atomic polarization at a metal surface change the effective work function of the surface in a high electric field. The former increases the effective work function, while the latter reduces it in a positive field. The change may amount to several electron volts at a field strength of 6×108 V/cm. These two effects should therefore be included in the calculation of the capacity in thin dielectric structures and in the theory of both field evaporation and field ionization. © 1969 The American Physical Society.