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Der Vordurchschlagsstrom im Hochvakuum. I. Die Spannungsabhängigkeit des Stromes bei konstantem Feld
Author(s) -
Jüttner B.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
beiträge aus der plasmaphysik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0005-8025
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.19680080305
Subject(s) - field electron emission , analytical chemistry (journal) , work function , torr , voltage , cathode , materials science , chemistry , atomic physics , physics , electrode , thermodynamics , nuclear physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , electron
Pre‐breakdown currents were measured in the range from 10 −17 to 10 −9 A in a vacuum of 10 −9 Torr. The cathode was the extended (100) surface of a nickel single crystal. In the range from 10 −15 to 10 −11 A the current curves could be measured in times ≦ 1 s. It was found that the emission is not constant in times < 1 s. The currents show a fluctuation in times < 1 s which is voltage depending. The average current (measured in times > 1 s) rises with the total voltage at constant field. This is interpreted by a voltage depending work function which varies by the influence of ionic bombardment on adsorbed gas layers. This view is supported by a pronounced effect of oxygen adsorption. The total voltage effect causes a considerably error in the field enhancement factor β and the emitting surface which are calculated from the Fowler‐Nordheim plots.