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Title: Evaluation of niobium as candidate electrode material for dc high voltage photoelectron guns

Journal Article · · Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams
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In this study, the field emission characteristics of niobium electrodes were compared to those of stainless steel electrodes using a DC high voltage field emission test apparatus. A total of eight electrodes were evaluated: two 304 stainless steel electrodes polished to mirror-like finish with diamond grit and six niobium electrodes (two single-crystal, two large-grain and two fine-grain) that were chemically polished using a buffered-chemical acid solution. Upon the first application of high voltage, the best large-grain and single-crystal niobium electrodes performed better than the best stainless steel electrodes, exhibiting less field emission at comparable voltage and gradient. In all cases, field emission from electrodes (stainless steel and/or niobium) could be significantly reduced and sometimes completely eliminated, by introducing krypton gas into the vacuum chamber while the electrode was biased at high voltage. Of all the electrodes tested, a large-grain niobium electrode performed the best, exhibiting no measurable field emission (< 10 pA) at 225 kV with 20 mm cathode/anode gap, corresponding to a gradient of 18.7 MV/m.

Research Organization:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-06OR23177; AC05-84ER40150
OSTI ID:
1074783
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1049492
Report Number(s):
JLAB-ACC-12-1571; DOE/OR/23177-2169; PRABFM; 083502
Journal Information:
Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams, Journal Name: Physical Review Special Topics. Accelerators and Beams Vol. 15 Journal Issue: 8; ISSN 1098-4402
Publisher:
American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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