Energy distributions of field emitted electrons from carbide tips and tungsten tips with diamondlike carbon coatings

Abstract

We have measured the energy distributions of electrons field emitted from tungsten carbide, HfC〈100〉, and ZrC〈100〉 tips, and tungsten field emitters with diamondlike carbon coatings. Multiple‐peaked energy distributions were observed from instability induced emission sites on the carbide tips. Energy distributions of electrons field emitted from the diamondlike carbon coated tungsten tips were broader than those from metal tips. They also showed a shift towards lower energies with increases in the emission current.