Periodic Field Emission from an Isolated Nano-Scale Electron Island

TL;DR

This paper reports on the observation of periodic field emission from an isolated nano-scale gold island, demonstrating oscillatory behavior and deviations from classical models due to electric isolation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental setup with a mechanically oscillating nano-island and a theoretical model explaining the observed deviations from Fowler-Nordheim theory.

Findings

Reproduced transition from tunneling to field emission

Observed deviation from Fowler-Nordheim behavior

Demonstrated oscillatory emission from isolated nano-island

Abstract

We observe field emission from an isolated nano-machined gold island. The island is able to mechanically oscillate between two facing electrodes, which provide recharging and detection of the emission current. We are able to trace and reproduce the transition from current flow through a rectangular tunneling barrier to the regime of field emission. A theoretical model via a master-equation reproduces the experimental data and shows deviation from the Fowler-Nordheim description due to the island's electric isolation.