TECHNIQUE FOR LOCATING AND MAPPING THE SURFACE DENSITY OF MICRON-SIZED ASPERITIES USED AS COLD-CATHODE ELEMENTS.

Abstract

In order to understand the effects of field emission from asperities, it is necessary to make direct field-emission-current measurements of individual asperities. A procedural and evaluation technique has been refined using a modified Muller microscope with a motion resolution of 0.006 micrometers (60 A), which accurately determines the location and density of micron-sized asperities. The surface of a film of molybdenum metal containing asperities is scanned by means of a fine probe tip of positive potential with respect to the sample. The equipment is described and the technique used for locating individual asperities in order to give a field-emission contour of the metal surface is reviewed. Results on experimental samples are discussed; the criterion for the electric field strength of the asperities is discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0680196

Entities

People

  • Joseph Velasquez

Organizations

  • United States Army Communications-Electronics Command

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Communication Equipment
  • Electric Fields
  • Elements
  • Emission
  • Field Emission
  • Measurement
  • Metals
  • Micrometers
  • Microscopes
  • Molybdenum
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Geodesy
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).