Gadzuk, J.
and Lucas, A.
(1973),
Field-Emission Tails and Tunneling Lifetimes, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=620039 (Accessed May 10, 2026)
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Field-Emission Tails and Tunneling Lifetimes
Published
Author(s)
, A Lucas
Abstract
Recent observations of high- and low-energy tails in field-emission energy distributions can be interpreted in terms of quasi-stationary-state single-particle tunneling. This imposes a restriction on the observable range of energies in such studies. The tails result from the predicted breakdown of the transfer Hamiltonian theory of tunneling when fourth-order terms in the perturbation expansion of the tunneling matrix element become large. The tunneling lifetimes 10-12 sec required to fit the experimental data are consistent with both the R C time constant discussed by Thornber, McGill, and Mead and also a simple intuitive picture. Alternate theories of tunneling lifetimes are critically evaluated.Citation
Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)
Volume
7
Pub Type
Journals
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Created June 1, 1973, Updated May 7, 2026