PURPOSE: To prevent an emitted electron from again dropping to an electrode so as to attain increase of an emitter current, by providing a resistor film in an upper of lower part of a conductive film provided between the electrodes to have an electron emitting part, and lowering the potential to specify potential distribution.

CONSTITUTION: A pair of element electrodes 4, 5 are arranged on an insulating substrate 1, to provide therebetween a conductive film 3, consisting of a metal or metal oxide, connected. This conductive film 3 is previously treated to form an electron emitting part 2, further to apply activation treating and stabilization treating. By applying voltage between the electrodes 4, 5 with a current flowing in the conductive film 3, an electron is emitted from the vicinity of a crack 6 in the electron emitting part 2. In the electron emitting element, a resistor film 7 of specifying potential distribution in the vicinity of the electron emitting part 2 by a potential drop is provided in an upper or lower part of the conductive film 3. In this way, the emitted electron is prevented from being again attracted to the element electrodes 4, 5 in a high potential side.