We have observed interference fringes of electrons in field emission patterns from multiwalled carbon nanotubes at 60 K. The observed fringe pattern is reproduced by calculations based on the formula of Young's interference of two beams. Three-beam interference has also been detected over short time periods. We discuss the reason why Young's interference appears in the electron emission pattern in accelerating fields.
Two kinds of electron emission sites on carbon nanotubes have been clarified; one is a nanoprotrusion exhibiting deformed honeycomb structures composed of carbon hexagons,pentagons and possibly heptagons. The other is either an edged species or adsorbates. The emission spectra show two characteristic features; a broad main peak as compared with theoretical curves based on Fowler-Nordheim theory, and an additional shoulder at about 0.5 eV from E
F, of which the features are observed independent of the emission direction. The broad main peak may indicate that energy band bending occurs near the emission sites.
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