Field emission from submicron emitter arrays

The authors describe the preparation and emission characteristics of emitter tips with fourfold symmetry based on the mold techniques of H.F. Gray and R.F. Greene. By appropriate selection of film thicknesses, grid to emitter spacing of less than 0.5 mu m was achieved. The authors have prepared and studied the emission characteristics of several geometries that include emitter tips above and below the plane of the grid with grid to emitter spacings ranging from 0.4 to 1.0 mu m. Onset of emission was observed at grid potentials as low as 10 V with Fowler-Nordheim-like emission characteristics. Emission current vs voltage measurements over the temperature range 300 K to 450 K showed no detectable change in characteristics as expected in field emission. Stable current densities of 0.5 A/cm/sup 2/ (500 nA/tip) have been obtained and illumination of a phosphor anode has been demonstrated.<
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