Energy distributions of field-emitted electrons from silicon: Evidence for surface states

Abstract

Energy distributions of field-emitted electrons were obtained from field evaporated and annealed silicon tips. Electrons are emitted from levels below the Fermi level but above the valence band. The shape of the distributions depends on the crystallographic orientation of the emitting surface. The results are intepreted in terms of emission from a band of surface states which overlaps with the band gap.