Abstract
This contribution presents a model analysis for the initiation of explosive emission;
a phenomena that is observed at cathode surfaces under high current densities. Here,
localized heating is quantitatively evaluated on ultrashort time scales as a potential
mechanism that initiates explosive emission, based on a two-temperature, relaxation
time model. Our calculations demonstrate a strong production of nonequilibrium
phonons, ultimately leading to localized melting. Temperatures are predicted to reach
the cathode melting point over nanosecond times within the first few monolayers of
the protrusion. This result is in keeping with the temporal scales observed experimentally
for the initiation of explosive emission.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 127237 (7 pages) |
| Journal | AIP Advances |
| State | Published - Dec 31 2015 |