SIMULATIONS OF THE INTERACTION OF TUNNELING ELECTRONS WITH OPTICAL-FIELDS IN LASER-ILLUMINATED FIELD-EMISSION

The one-dimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation is solved for a sinusoidally modulated barrier by means of the numerical procedure of shooting methods. Calculations for square barriers, as well as for the Fowler-Nordheim model of the static potential in field emission, show the existence of a new resonance. The increased tunneling current at resonance is primarily in the upper sideband, which consists of particles that have absorbed one quantum from the time-dependent barrier. Using parameters that are typical of laser-illuminated field emission, this resonance is rather broad and is generally centered between 400 and 600 nm. Analyses for illumination by two cw lasers with a small difference in frequency, and by one amplitude-modulated laser, suggest that the emitted current could be modulated efficiently at microwave frequencies by using lasers operating near the new resonance.