Features of nonequilibrium electron emission in high-current discharges

Peculiarties of high-current electron emission in conditions of electric field penetrating a conductor are discussed. It is shown that an electron subsystem in the vicinity of an emitting surface of a conductor proves to be nonequilibrium which makes possible a sharp increase in current density of electron emission (non-equilibrium electron emission). Electron velocity distribution near the surface of the cathode spot has been found to be a nonlocal function of electric field, and electron transfer towards the emitter surface occurs due to a diffusion mechanism. The estimation of reducing the effective work function is presented.