Metallic-Field Effect and Its Consequences in Field Emission, Field Ionization, and the Capacitance of a Capacitor

Abstract

The metallic-field effect at a metal surface is calculated in a semi-self-consistent manner using an approximate version of Bardeen's method for the evaluation of the surface potential barrier. The consequences of the metallic-field effect in relation to field emission, field ionization, and the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor are considered. In field emission this produces, at high fields, a small deviation from the Fowler-Nordheim formula towards lower currents. In field ionization it leads to increased ion current and a narrower energy distribution. It has no significant effect on the capacitance of a capacitor.