Field emission spectroscopy studies on photo-sensitive p-doped Si-tip arrays

The influence of laser illumination on the integral as well as on the energy-resolved electron currents from well-defined p-doped Si-tip arrays was investigated. First results have provided stable cathode currents between 100 nA and 500 μA in a field range of 2-20 V/μm. Green laser illumination resulted in an enhanced cathode current and an increased population of the conduction band which can be seen in the spectra. Charging of the cathode surface, however, leads to a shift and broadening of the spectra which complicate their analysis. Therefore, further experiments with a rotatable cathode and a varying number of tips as well as with a tunable laser are planned.