Richard Forbes studied at Trinity College. His first degree is in theoretical physics. He holds BA, MA and PhD degrees from Cambridge University and a DSc from the University of Aston in Birmingham (UK). He is a professional engineer (UK and European), and a Fellow or Member of various learned societies. He is an Inaugural Fellow of the International Field Emission Society (IFES) and has twice been the elected IFES President.

A modern new name for his specialist research area is: "High-Electric-Field Quantum Science and Technology". This coves the basic theory of field electron and field ion emission and of related topics and technologies (including charged-surfaces theory, electrostatics and relevant electrohydrodynamics). Particular interests are in how the various related machines and techniques actually work, and in how their results are best interpreted (especially, nowadays, atom probe). He has published about 195 "mainstream papers" and has made about 610 other scientific presentations.

Richard has been officially retired for many years but remains located at the University of Surrey, now as a Visiting Associate Professor. Recently he moved from the University's Advanced Technology Institute into the Quantum Science and Technology Group of the School of Mathematics and Physics. Main current interests are the basic theory of field induced bonding, of field evaporation and of field ion imaging, and investigating fundamental problems in the theory of field electron emission. He also has interests in the standardization of atom-probe terminology and in correcting deep-seated fundamental errors in techological literature A general theme of his work is to put the basic theory of the high-field technologies and related data interpretation onto an improved scientific basis, particularly by the insertion of "underpinning theory".

Making further progress with metal field evaporation (FEV) theory is an interesting problem. Two basic issues currently deserve attention. (1) How to choose effectively between: (a) the long-established view that FEV is a thermally activated process where bond breaking and ionization occur simultaneously; and (b) the newer view that FEV is an electric-force-induced process. (Alternatively, to demonstrate that the views are equivalent). After discussion, it will be suggested that a preliminary problem is that Maxwell's formula does not work well at the atomic level, and that the "electric force on a partially charged atom" may need determining by a quantum-mechanical treatment using the Hellman-Feynman approach (e.g., [1]). (2) How best to interpret results from the exciting new technique of FEV energy loss spectroscopy (FEELS) [2]. Discussion will concentrate on the nature of the parameter "C", and its relationship to older parameters called "partial energies" [3]. A proof will be given that a linear variation of ion potential energy with distance leads to approximate linear dependence of activation energy Q with model-field F. Some subtleties in the treatment of activation-energy dependences Q(F) will be discussed. There seems a case for further theoretical explorations of Q(F) dependences, using density functional theory.

Keywords: Field evaporation, Hellman-Feynman theorem, FEELS.

References

1. S. Pathak et. al. J. Chem. Phys. P.no. 014104 (2023) Vol. 158.
2. F. Vurpillot et al. Micros. Microanal. P.no. 1091 (2025) Vol. 30.
3. R.G. Forbes, Surf. Sci. P.no. 577 (1974) Vol. 46.