Space charge effects in field emission: One dimensional theory

The current associated with field emission is greatly dependent on the electric field at the emitting electrode. This field is a combination of the electric field in vacuum and the space charge created by the current. The latter becomes more important as the current density increases. Here, a study is performed using a modified classical one dimensional 1D Child–Langmuir description that allows for exact solutions in order to characterize the contributions due to space charge. Methods to connect the 1D approach to an array of periodic three dimensional structures are considered. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3272690