On the mechanism of emission from the ferroelectric ceramic cathode

Abstract

This article suggests an alternative mechanism for electron emission from the ferroelectric ceramic cathode. This mechanism involves the concept of vacuum breakdown initiation from metal-dielectric cathodes that comprises two stages: the field emission through metal- dielectric-vacuum conjunction followed by the processes resulting in an uncompleted surface discharge. The electron emission thus occurs from the low-density surface plasma. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.