Relativistic Correction of the Field Emission Current in the Fowler-Nordheim Formalism

Abstract

As the title implies the article describes the possibility of taking into account the relativistic correction to the field current density of the field emission of electrons from the metal. The article provides the reader with some analytic generalization of the Fowler-Nordheim equation with the relativistic correction. The relativistic correction to the Fowler-Nordheim equation makes it possible to take into account the influence of the relativism on the field emission current. It is especially noted that the consideration of this correction is necessary in the case of sufficiently strong electric fields and relatively large interelectrode distances. It should be stressed that this correction is valid for fixed interelectrode distances that decrease with increasing electric field strength. It means that for the electric field strength of 0.1 to 1 Gv/m the interelectrode distance should not exceed values of 1 to 0.1 cm. First in the article it is spoken in detail about finding of the electron wave function. Next the field emission curent calculations are given. As a result the transmission coefficient of the potential step from the Klein-Gordon equation within the framework of the Fowler-Nordheim approximation is found. It is shown that in the case of the interelectrode distanse less than 1 cm, an analytical expression for the field electron emission current density is obtained. The conclusion that usually relativistic correction does not exceed a tenth of a percent is made. But in the case of the field electron emission from pulsars (where the work function and electric field strength are much higher) the contribution of the relativistic correction about 10 % has been established.

Field emission with relativistic effects in a magnetic field

“…The first and the third terms are purely relativistic and cannot be obtained in the framework of the Fowler and Nordheim approach. We also note that the first term is the relativistic correction previously obtained in the case of small interelectrode distances [22].…”

“…Assuming one direction motion of electron inside metal we set p ′ 2 = 0. It follows from (21,22) that p 2 = 0 in this case.…”