Ang LK, Kwan TJT, Lau YY. New scaling of child-langmuir law in the quantum regime.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2003;
91:208303. [PMID:
14683407 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.91.208303]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a consistent quantum mechanical model of Child-Langmuir (CL) law, including electron exchange-correlation interaction, electrode's surface curvature, and finite emitter area. The classical value of the CL law is increased by a larger factor due to the electron tunneling through the space-charge potential, and the electron exchange-correlation interaction becomes important when the applied gap voltage Vg and the gap spacing D are, respectively, on the order of Hartree energy level, and nanometer scale. It is found that the classical scaling of Vg(3/2) and D(-2) is no longer valid in the quantum regime, and a new scaling of Vg(1/2) and D(-4) is established. The smooth transition from the classical regime to the quantum regime is also demonstrated.
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