Kinetic theory for energy exchange processes in high-current electron emission

The influence of the finite velocity of energy relaxation of non-equilibriu m holes on the heat instability development leading to a vacuum breakdown h as been investigated. For this purpose, a new more complete self-consistent approach has been proposed and developed which allows a description of fie ld electron emission and energy exchange processes in high-current electron emission. It has been shown that taking into account the spatial distribut ion of the energy dissipation due to Nottingham's effect and the vacant sta tes induced by the emission process lead to the effectiveness decreasing of the Nottingham heating at the early stages of a cathode initiation of a va cuum breakdown.