Cold emission refers to the release of electrons from a material without the need for thermal energy, often facilitated by strong electric fields or quantum tunneling. This phenomenon is crucial in the development of field emission displays and advanced electron microscopy technologies due to its efficiency and precision at low temperatures.

Cold Emission

Release Of Electrons

Thermal energy is the internal energy present in a system due to the random motions of its particles, often associated with temperature and heat transfer. It plays a crucial role in thermodynamics, influencing how energy is transferred and transformed in physical processes.

Thermal Energy

Strong electric fields

Quantum tunneling is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where particles pass through a potential energy barrier that they classically shouldn't be able to surmount. This process is crucial in various physical phenomena and technologies, including nuclear fusion in stars and the operation of tunnel diodes and scanning tunneling microscopes.

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