Electron field emission properties of closed carbon nanotubes

Recent experiments have shown that carbon nanotubes exhibit excellent electron field emisson properties with high current densities at low electric fields. Here we present theoretical investigations that incorporate geometrical effects and the electronic structure of nanotubes. The electric field is dramatically enhanced near the cap of a nanotube with a large variation of local field distribution. It is found that deviation from linear Fowler-Nordheim behavior occurs due to the variation of the local field in the electron tunneling region. The maximum current per tube is of the order of 10 microA. Local and microscopic aspects of field emission from nanotubes are also presented.