Vapor-Phase Growth Kinetics of Potassium Whiskers by Field Emission

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Abstract
Using the method originated by Gomer, we have studied the growth kinetics of potassiumwhiskers, as they grow from the vapor phase in an electron field emission tube. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first use of an alkali metal as a field emitter. The results for potassiumwhiskers show some features similar to those previously found for mercury, and some new features. The former include positive exponential growth, and the attainment of terminal lengths. New features include the absence, usually, of symmetric emission patterns, a very low activation energy for surface self‐diffusion, the fact that the whiskers cannot be pulled off but instead appear to shorten gradually if the field is raised, and finally, an interesting sensitivity of the growth processes to illumination of the whiskers with visible light.

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