The energy spectrum of electrons field emitted from carbon fibre micropoint cathodes

A high resolution electron spectrometer has been used for a study of the energy spectra of electrons field emitted from carbon fibre cathodes. This has shown that the emission is not derived from a simple 'metallic' process, but rather involves some form of composite microregime. An alternative theoretical model has been proposed which is based on the concept of field penetration and consequent electron heating in a sub-micron thick insulating region overlaying a conducting substrate.