Maximizing the notional area in single tip field emitters

Abstract

One of the critical aspects in advancing high-brightness field emitter devices is determining the conditions under which single-tip emitters should be constructed to optimize their emission area. Recent experiments have explored varying the axis ratio ξ of the cap of a single-tip emitter, ranging from an oblate semi-spheroid to a prolate shape, mounted on a nearly cylindrical conducting body. In this work, we present a strategy, based on high-accuracy computer simulations using the finite element technique, to maximize the emission area of those single-tip emitters. Importantly, our findings indicate that the notional emission area achieves its maximum when the emitter’s cap is adjusted to an oblate semi-spheroid with a characteristic axis ratio ξC≈0.85. We do a comparison of notional emission area as a function of ξ for an ellipsoidal emitter on a post and compare these results from other emitter configurations, which are feasible to fabricate.