Electron spectroscopy from solid-state field-controlled emission cathodes

Measured energy distributions of the electrons emitted from solid-state field-controlled emission (SSE) cathodes showed one-peak spectra having a specific profile and also a peak shift towards lower energies for increasing applied voltages. The peak shifts are related to an effective resistive behavior during the electron transport through the ultrathin wide-gap semiconductor (UTSC) layer prior to the emission. The analysis of the experimental energy distribution confirmed the main characteristics of the emission model for SSE cathodes, in particular the formation of injected space charges in the UTSC conduction band leading to a strong lowering of the surface barrier. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.