Simulation and design of field emitter array

Some simulation results about potential, field strength, and emitting current density of cone-shaped emitter arrays are presented. Several important design features about the field emitter array are discussed. The most striking feature is that if one wants to obtain more current from the field emitter array in a given device area, there is a limit to the density of the emitter array due to the emitter tip field strength lowering effect, which is a result of the interaction from nearby surrounding tips. If one reduces the tip radius to increase the field strength a higher current density is compensated by a reduced effective emitting area; therefore, to obtain the highest emitter current for a certain set of designed emitter array geometric parameters a corresponding optimal tip radius needs to be determined