Measurement of field-emission induced optical emission spectra

Abstract

Field-emission induced optical spectra have been measured from between to two electrically biased parallel copper electrodes. The measured light intensity of the optical spectra has a strong correlation with the current in the gap as the supply voltage is increased and a characteristic broadband spectrum between 550nm and 850nm. The spectrum also has some variation in intensity at different wavelengths depending on the angle of observation. Possible causes of this light include black body radiation, optical transition radiation and cathode luminescence. Further work is ongoing to determine the cause of the optical spectra, to potentially provide insight into the characteristics and evolution of emission sites.