The Relation Between Electron Field Emission and Contact Electromotive Force for Liquid Mercury

Abstract

The relation between contact e.m.f. and the impulsive potential necessary to initiate a vacuum spark has been studied for a liquid mercury cathode. The magnitude and time of application of the impulsive potential were determined by a cathode-ray oscillograph so that possible distortion of the mercury surface produced by the electric field could be evaluated. For impure mercury no definite relation could be found. However, for carefully distilled mercury the relation between the work function and breakdown field was in qualitative but not in quantitative agreement with theory.