Self-oscillations in an electromechanical system with a field emitter

Electromechanical oscillations have been detected in a system consisting of a vacuum diode with a field cathode made of single-walled carbon nanotubes. As a dc voltage between such a cathode and an anode is applied, stable mechanical oscillations are observed along with oscillations of the self-sustained emission current. An empirical model of this phenomenon is proposed. It is described with a system of one-dimensional equations of mechanical motion and electrical processes in the system. An analysis of these equations is performed and a qualitative consistency of theoretical and experimental results is demonstrated. It is proved that the observed phenomenon is common for all systems with field nanoemitters. The suggested mechanism of the excitation of the self-sustained oscillations can be used to explain the experimentally observed features of such nanoemitters.