The Effect of Molecules Adsorbed to the Cathode Surface on the Characteristics of a High-Voltage Gas Discharge

Relationships inherent in the processes that occur at the initial stage of a high-voltage (electric field strength E > 1 MV/cm) gas discharge with participation of nonmetal nanofilms adsorbed to the cathode are considered. It is shown that the current-voltage characteristic of the prebreakdown current obeys the Fowler-Nordheim equation corrected for the quantum character of image forces. Based on electronic polaron theory, a general expression for the field emission current at the interface between two media is obtained. It is shown that for the abovementioned fields, the field dependence of the electron tunneling current is appreciably different from the well-known classical relations.