Progress with developing theory for fowler-nordheim plot interpretation

The work described in this conference talk follows up recent work on the development of a test for lack of field emission orthodoxy. There are three stages of discussion involved. First, the results of applying the test to 17 selected published FN plots are reported. About half fail the test, showing that related published field enhancement factor (FEF) values are unreliable. In several cases, this failure is probably related to plot “saturation” associated with series resistance. Thus, second, we have explored how to calculate a “slope correction factor for the case of constant series resistance”. This can be done, but the outcome is not useful. Third, we briefly outline other conceivable routes to more accurate extraction or characterization of “true physical FEFs”, and suggest that systematic simulation experiments on all or some of these might be of interest.