Abstract
The shot noise power spectrum of the emission current from planar metallic cathodes is calculated taking into account the effects of the image force potential in front of the cathode. For metals with low work function, the Fano factor which characterizes the reduction of the shot noise power SIem below the Schottky result 2qIem (where q is the magnitude of the charge of the electron and Iem is the time average of the emitted current) is calculated as a function of the applied external electric field and is found to be reduced substantially below the value calculated when the effects of the image charge potential are neglected. A study of the temperature dependence of the Fano factor can be used to estimate the temperature dependence of the work function of the cathode material.
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