Approximate universality in the tunneling potential for curved field emitters—A line charge model approach

Field emission tips with an apex radius of curvature below 100 nm are not adequately described by the standard theoretical models based on the Fowler–Nordheim and Murphy–Good formalisms. This is due to the breakdown of the “constant electric field” assumption within the tunneling region leading to substantial errors in current predictions. A uniformly applicable curvature-corrected field emission theory requires that the tunneling potential is approximately universal irrespective of the emitter shape. Using the line charge model, it is established analytically that smooth generic emitter tips approximately follow this universal trend when the anode is far away. This is verified using COMSOL for various emitter shapes including the locally non-parabolic “hemisphere on a cylindrical post.” It is also found numerically that the curvature-corrected tunneling potential provides an adequate approximation when the anode is in close proximity as well as in the presence of other emitters.