Thermionic Emission
Thermionic emission is the process where electrons are released from a material, typically a metal, when it is heated to a high temperature. As the temperature increases, the thermal energy allows some electrons to overcome the attractive forces holding them within the material, enabling them to escape into the surrounding space.
This phenomenon is commonly utilized in devices like vacuum tubes and cathode ray tubes, where emitted electrons are controlled to create electric currents or display images. Thermionic emission plays a crucial role in various applications, including electronics and telecommunications, by facilitating the flow of electricity in these devices.