Energy distributions of Zr/O/W Schottky electron emission

The energy distributions of electron emission from a Schottky emitter have been studied at tip temperatures from 1450 to 1800 K and angular current densities from 0.1 to 240 μA/sr. We have observed broadening of the energy distribution, with increase of angular current density and decrease of tip temperature, from 0.4 to 1.32 eV resulting from electron tunneling and electron-electron interaction. Good agreement between the experimental results and predictions from Monte Carlo simulation of the emission process is observed. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.