Electron Emission

Electron emission is the process where electrons are released from a material’s surface when energy is supplied, often through heat, light, or applied voltage. This occurs because electrons, normally bound within atoms, gain enough energy to overcome the attractive forces holding them in the material. Types include thermionic emission (from heat), photoelectric emission (from light), and field emission (under strong electric fields). Electron emission is fundamental in devices like vacuum tubes, cathode ray tubes, and electron microscopes, enabling control and manipulation of electron flow for various electronic and imaging applications.