Effect of laser radiation on the morphology and emissivity of nanodimensional carbon films

The effect of high-power pulsed laser radiation on the morphology and field emission of electrons from nanocrystalline graphite films is studied. The films are prepared by dc-discharge-activated CVD from a hydrogen-methane mixture. The material of the films partly evaporates under the action of the laser pulse. Threshold laser power densities at which the emissivity and geometry of the cathode surface change are determined. A direct correlation between the morphology and emission characteristics is shown to be absent.