FIELD EMISSION ASSISTED MICRODISCHARGE DEVICES

摘要

Field emission nanostructures (18) assist operation of a microdischarge device. The field emission nanostructures are integrated into the microdischarge device(s) or are situated near an electrode (14, 16, 36, 38) of the microdischarge device(s). The field emission nanostructures reduce operating and ignition voltages compared to otherwise identical device lacking the field emission nanostructures, while also increasing the radiative output of the microdischarge device(s).