Improved methods of extracting area-like information from CFE current-voltage data

This conference poster reports two improved methods of extracting area-like information from measured current-voltage [i_m(V_m)] characteristics for cold field electron emission (CFE). Results are valid only if the emission situation is orthodox. These methods: (a) confirm “by experiment” the long-held theoretical expectation that in CFE theory the Schottky-Nordheim (SN) barrier is a better physical model than the exactly triangular (ET) barrier; (b) imply that SN-barrier-related equations should be used to interpret i_m(V_m) measurements on large-area field emitters (LAFEs); and (c), for emitters exhibiting orthodox behavior, allow area-based information to be reliably extracted as part of emitter characterization. One of the methods might conceivably be useful as a technique for initial investigations into non-orthodox emission.