ECTON - ELECTRON AVALANCHE FROM METAL

It has been shown that when microexplosions occur on a cathode there is a so-called explosive electron emission observed as short bursts or avalanches of electrons, which we have named 'ectons'. The start of electron current in ectons is due to the overheating of the metal because of the very high energy density (10(4) J g(-1)) and the current stops due to cooling down of the emission zone. Ectons occur in electrical discharges in vacuum, in cathode spots of vacuum are, in bulk discharges in gases, in pseudospark discharges, in corona discharges, etc.