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<abstract xmlns="http://eprints.org/ep2/data/2.0">We have obtained tunneling currents of over IO A through&#13;
the vacuum gap between Conformal electrodes having an&#13;
effective area on the order of 0.1-1 cm^2. The large area&#13;
vacuum gap is obtained by using a surface replication method&#13;
that allows for two electrodes to have precisely matched&#13;
topographies. 'The width of the vacuum gap within the range&#13;
of 30-100 A is regulated using piezoelectric actuators. These&#13;
same actuators are used to regulate angles between the&#13;
electrodes. Measured I-V characteristics show that the overall&#13;
current through the system can be represented as the sum of&#13;
the tunneling current and the current running through the&#13;
short circuits between electrodes. and that tunneling current&#13;
becomes dominant at distances greater than 30 A. The&#13;
dependence of the capacitance and conductance on the&#13;
distance between electrodes is in good agreement with the&#13;
simple model of electrodes separated by a vacuum gap. Such&#13;
an electron tunneling device could be used for cooling and&#13;
power generation, as well as for other applications</abstract>
