Stabilization of Field- and Photoemission of a Planar Structure with a Nanosized Diamond-Like Carbon Film

Abstract

Effects that may provide an increase in the stability of field emission and tunneling photoemission of a planar blade structure using an emitter that is covered with nanosized dielectric diamond-like carbon (DLC) film are analyzed. A model of specific features of the distributed zone of the field localization on the DLC surface in the structure (zone with a smooth peak of electric field) is constructed and the corresponding theoretical analysis is performed. It is shown that the DLC film with a thickness of 20 nm on a molybdenum blade (Mo blade) provides an increase in the area of the emission region by a factor of 15 in comparison with the area corresponding to the Mo blade without coating. The working time of the emission structure with the DLC film is increased by a factor of greater than 50 (to 8700 h) for the regime of long pulses (320 μs) with a relative interpulse period of 10 and the mean current density of the field emission of no less than 30 mA/cm². An increase in the sensitivity of the structure with the DLC film is demonstrated.