Abstract

LUDKE, Everton. Vacuum free electron measurements and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Rev. Bras. Ensino Fís. [online]. 2011, vol.33, n.4, pp. 4701-4701. ISSN 1806-1117.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-11172011000400022.

In this paper, a sequence of low-cost teaching lab experiments to assess fundamental concepts in Fermi-Dirac quantum statistical mechanics and quantitative measurements of current density of a free thermal electron in vacuum to prove experimentally the Richardson-Dushman equation. Experimental techniques and numerical analysis for the current density are also discussed in this work. Thermoionic-emission tubes have proven to be excellent to corroborate the concepts discussed in this paper.

Keywords : free electron measurements; quantum statistics; Fermi-Dirac.