Tunnel emission triode investigation

The tunnel emission triode has been developed after research on the tunnel emission diode. Reproducible diodes with the capability of reaching current densities over 1000 A/cm²and withstanding electric fields above 10⁷V/cm have been made. Samples with a thin base electrode were used to study the energy distribution of tunnel emitted electrons ejected into vacuum Collector currents, of electrons emitted in vacuum, were over 350µA with transmission ratios over 0.005. The transmission ratio did not vary with emitter voltage. For collector currents above 10 mA/cm²the mean energy increases with increasing emitter voltage. At lower current levels the is about half the change in emitter voltage. At lower current levels the mean energy varies much more slowly with emitter voltage. The loss of energy by the hot electrons is consistent with the model of tunnel emission from traps in the dielectric. These samples have been operated as triodes with vacuum collectors. The characteristic curves show possible voltage gains of 10 or more for load resistances of 50,000 ohms. Triodes with solid collectors (oxide-metal) were made, and their characteristics will be discussed.