Measurements and analysis of advanced field emission cold cathodes

We report measurements and analyses of field emission from both copper and aluminum cathodes. To analyze the data, we have developed a numerical model of electron emission. We note that localized heating of high current density field emission cathodes can provide regime where thermionic as well as field emission effects must be considered. Our analysis of experimental data fitting in both the thermionic and field emission dominant regime provides a robust method for determination of effective work function and field enhancement factor for field emission cathode.