Interpreting the empirical field emission equation for large area field emitters

Abstract

Both single emitters and large area field emitters (LAFE) are generally characterized using the slope and intercept of a Murphy-Good (or Fowler-Nordheim) plot which are used to extract the field enhancement factor and the emission area. Using a shielding model that has been developed recently for a LAFE, the validity of the underlying assumption is investigated. It is found that in case of a LAFE, the slope has contributions from the enhancement factor {\it as well as} the rate at which the effective number of super-emitters changes with the applied field. As a consequence, the emission area is related to both the slope and the intercept in a LAFE. When the mean spacing in a LAFE is much larger than the height of emitter, the usual interpretation of the slope and intercept are recovered.