ELECTRON EMISSION ELEMENT, ELECTRON SOURCE USING THE ELECTRON EMISSION ELEMENT, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE USING THE ELECTRON SOURCE, AND DRIVE METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an element having high electron emitting efficiency by setting the elastic scattering probability to an electron having an energy within a specified range of a film which has carbon, which is arranged between a pair of electrodes arranged on a base body surface in opposition thereto with a prescribed clearance and electrically connected to the respective electrodes with a clearance as the boundary. SOLUTION: The energy of the electron is 5 eV or higher and 15 eV or lowever, and the elastic scattering probability is 0.1 or higher. When a voltage is applied between element electrodes 2 and 3, a strong electric field is generated in the vicinity of a crack formed between deposits composed manly of carbon. When the intensity of the elastic field reaches a fixed valued or more, a tunnel current is carried from the vicinity of the crack of the first deposit toward the vicinity of the crack of the second deposit, and the electron which has tunneled partially scattered in the vicinity of the crack of the second deposit. To provide an electron emitting efficiency of a certain fixed value or more, the elastic scattering probability to the electron on the deposit is important. An image forming device of high brightness and high quality with low power consumption can be realized.