The 31 papers, about half of the symposium's presentations, were selected to provide a representative sampling of the present status of materials used in vacuum microelectronics. They range across all aspects of electron field emission from theory and physical mechanisms to device structure, but many focus on the fabrication, characterization, and modeling of electron emissive materials. The sections cover field-emitter arrays and applications, carbon and wide-bandgap cathodes, and other cathode materials. Reproduced from typescripts. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Expert coverage of vacuum microelectronics-principles, devices, and applications The field of vacuum microelectronics has advanced so swiftly that commercial devices are being fabricated, and applications are being developed in displays, wireless communications, spacecraft, and electronics for use in harsh environments. It is a rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary field encompassing electrical engineering, materials science, vacuum engineering, and applied physics. This book surveys the fundamentals, technology, and device applications of this nascent field. Editor Wei Zhu brings together some of the world's foremost experts to provide comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the entire spectrum of vacuum microelectronics. Topics include: * Field emission theory * Metal and silicon field emitter arrays * Novel cold cathode materials * Field emission flat panel displays * Cold cathode microwave devices Vacuum Microelectronics is intended for practitioners in the display, microwave, telecommunications, and microelectronics industries and in government and university research laboratories, as well as for graduate students majoring in electrical engineering, materials science, and physics. It provides cutting-edge, expert coverage of the subject and serves as both an introductory text and a professional reference.

The MRS Symposium Proceeding series is an internationally recognised reference suitable for researchers and practitioners.

This symposium was the sCientific-technical event of the centennial celebration of the Asea Brown Boveri Switzerland. The purpose was to assess the present state of the art as well as shaping the basis for future progress in the area of power devices and related power circuits. The merger of Brown Boveri (BBC) with Asea to Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) three years ago gave new stimulus and enriched the technical substance of the symposium. By 1991, 100 years after the formation of BBC in Switzerland as a single company, this organization has been decentralized, forming 35 independent ABB companies. One of them - ABB Semiconductors Ltd. - directly deals with the power semiconductor business. These significant changes reflect the changes in the market place: increased competition and higher customer expectations have to be fulfilled. In line with the core business activities of ABB and with the concept of sustainable development, it is natural for ABB to be active in the area of power devices and circuits. Increased awareness towards energy conservation is one of the main drives for these activities. User friendliness is another drive: integration of intelligent functions, e.g. protection and/or increased direct computer interfacing of the power circuits. Therefore, also the R&D activities related to the subject of thIs symposium will in the future be characterized by an even stronger coupling with the market needs. For the members of the R&D Laboratories this means improved customer partnership beyond operational excellence.