Transmission coefficient and energy distribution of electrons emitted from M-I-M thin film structures

A simple model of the electron emission from M-I-M structures with insulator thickness >10 nm has been developed. The electric field distribution inside the insulator is supposed to be inhomogeneous with a region of a high field intensity near the cathode. The dependence of the transmission coefficient and of the parameters of the energy distribution on the applied voltage and on the insulator thickness is calculated. It is shown that features obtained experimentally, which contradict earlier theories, can be explained.