Thermionic emission of electrons from metal surfaces in the warm dense matter regime

• DOI: 10.1063/5.0054955
• Publication Date: 2021-08-03T11:17:18Z
• Authors: G. M. Petrov; A. Davidson; D. Gordon; B. Hafizi; J. Peñano
• Keywords: Thermionic emission; Warm dense matter; Rectangular potential barrier

Thermionic emission of electrons is a process fundamental to our understanding laser–matter interactions in the ultra-short pulse regime. Charge collected from an process, as well secondary radiation generated by their collective motion, provides avenues for diagnosing and verifying existing laser–solid interaction models. Laser fluences (∼104 J/m2) are particular interest they heat surface temperatures on order few electron volts (eV), placing it warm dense matter regime where much underlying physics yet be fully understood. However, even at such moderate conventional Richardson–Dushman formula rate becomes invalid. We consider additional barrier potential that appears due space-charge effects, which then limits thermionic emission. This feedback leading self-consistent solution with rate. Unlike work function, this dynamically evolves during process. Here, we present first calculation surface, along analytical expression, one-dimensional electrostatic model. The result generalization picture laser fluences. has been incorporated into two-temperature model Al target irradiated femtosecond laser. collisional transport data have obtained using average atom