The effects of oxygen-induced phase segregation on the interfacial electronic structure and quantum efficiency of CsSb photocathodes.

High-performance photocathodes for many prominent particle accelerator applications, such as x-ray free-electron lasers, cannot be grown in situ. These highly reactive materials must be grown and then transported to the electron gun in an ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) suitcase, during which time monolayer-level oxidation is unavoidable. Thin film CsSb photocathodes were grown on a variety of substrates.

A cryogenically cooled high voltage DC photoemission electron source.

Linear electron accelerators and their applications such as ultrafast electron diffraction require compact high-brightness electron sources with high voltage and electric field at the photocathode to maximize the electron density and minimize space-charge induced emittance growth. Achieving high brightness from a compact source is a challenging task because it involves an often-conflicting interplay between various requirements imposed by photoemission, acceleration, and beam dynamics. Here we present a new design for a compact high voltage DC electron gun with a novel cryogenic photocathode system and report on its construction and commissioning process.

Review and demonstration of ultra-low-emittance photocathode measurements.

This paper reports the development of a simple and reliable apparatus for measuring ultra-low emittance, or equivalently the mean transverse energy from cryogenically cooled photocathodes. The existing methods to measure ultra-low emittance from photocathodes are reviewed. Inspired by the available techniques, we have implemented two complementary methods, the waist scan and voltage scan, in one system giving consistent results.

Maximum achievable beam brightness from photoinjectors.

Electron injectors delivering relativistic electron beams with very high brightness are essential for a number of current and proposed electron accelerator applications. These high brightness beams are generally produced from photoemission cathodes. We formulate a limit on the electron beam brightness from such cathodes set by the transverse thermal energy of the electrons leaving the photocathode and the accelerating field at the cathode.