Optical measurement of the work function and the field reduction factor of metallic needle tips

Quintessential parameters for needle tip-based electron sources are the work function, the tip apex radius, and the field reduction factor. They determine the static emission properties and strongly influence laser-triggered photoemission experiments at these needle tips. We present a simple method based on photoemission with two different commonly available continuous-wave laser diodes to determine both parameters in situ. We demonstrate our technique at tungsten needle tips. In a first application, use the method to in situ monitor changes of the emitter caused by illumination with strong femtosecond laser pulses. After illumination, we observe an increase in the work function caused by laser-induced changes to the apex of the tip. These changes are reversible upon field evaporation and are accompanied by a change in the spatial electron emission distribution. We believe that this simple in situ work function determination technique is applicable to any metal and in many experimental settings.

Automated summary

This article presents a simple method based on photoemission technology to determine the work function and tip apex radius parameters of needle tip electron sources in real time. Through experiments on tungsten needle tips, we found that strong laser pulse irradiation increases the work function of the tip and changes the spatial electron emission distribution.