Photocathodes for free electron lasers
Many different photocathodes have been used as electron sources for FELs and other electron accelerator systems. In choosing one, a compromise between lifetime and quantum efficiency have been unavoidable. High quantum efficiency photocathodes such as CsK{sub 2}Sb, Cs{sub 3}Sb, and cesiated GaAs have short operational lifetimes and require an ultrahigh-vacuum environment. Long lifetime photocathodes such as LaB{sub 6}, Cu, and Y have relatively low quantum efficiencies. However, recently, cesium telluride was found to be an exception. Initial results from CERN and now at Los Alamos have shown that Cs{sub 2}Te is reasonably rugged with a high quantum efficiency below 270 nm. Further studies were carried out at Los Alamos in determining its performance as an electron source for the Los Alamos Advanced FEL. The Los Alamos Advanced FEL was successfully operated at 5-6 microns with a Cs{sub 2}Te photocathode driven by a frequency quadrupled Nd:YLF laser as the electron source. Cs{sub 2}Te photocathodes with quantum efficiencies of 12-18% at 254 mn were fabricated in an ultrahigh-vacuum chamber and transferred under high vacuum to the FEL. The authors estimated that the operational lifetime of Cs{sub 2}Te photocathodes to be at least 20 times that for K{sub 2}CsSb photocathodes. Furthermore, experiments in the fabrication chamber have shown that heating to 150-200{degrees}C photocathodes exposed for one hour at 2{times}10{sup {minus}4} torr of air was sufficient to revive the quantum efficiency from below 1% to about 10%. The electron beam for the FEL extracted from a cesium telluride target was also characterized. The emittance, response time, saturation level and dark current of cesium telluride photocathodes was determined to be sufficient for FEL applications.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 10180421
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-94-2849; CONF-9408146-5; ON: DE94018305; TRN: 94:008360
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. international free electron laser conference,Stanford, CA (United States),21-26 Aug 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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