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Results for “ELECTRON SOURCES”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Highly efficient photoelectric effect in halide perovskites for regenerative electron sources

Electron sources are a critical component in a wide range of applications such as electron-beam accelerator facilities, photomultipliers, and image intensifiers for night vision. We report efficient, regenerative and low-cost electron sources based on solution-processed halide perovskites thin films when they are excited with light with energy equal to or above their bandgap. We measure a quantum efficiency up to 2.2% and a lifetime of more than 25 h. Importantly, even after degradation, the electron emission can be completely regenerated to its maximum efficiency by deposition of a monolayer of Cs. The electron emission from halide perovskites can be tuned over the visible and ultraviolet spectrum, and operates at vacuum levels with pressures at least two-orders higher than in state-of-the-art semiconductor electron sources.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Positron generation using laser-wakefield electron sources

Positron generation, using wakefield-accelerated electrons driven into a converter target, was investigated experimentally and through Monte Carlo simulations. Using experimentally measured initial electron distributions from a 60 fs laser system, modeling shows that a collimated wakefield electron beam of moderate energy (50–200 MeV) produces a large number of positrons (~10 7 ), which are emitted from the rear of a mm-scale, high-Z target with divergence angles between 50 and 150 mrad. The large perpendicular momentum of the positrons was found to be dominated by contributions from multiple small angle Coulomb scattering. Positrons were not observed above background noise for a range of targets where simulations indicate a 5–30× increase in the beam charge was necessary to exceed threshold detection. These results provide new understanding to the fundamental limitations of creating narrow-divergence, high-density positron beams from laser-wakefield platforms for use in future laboratory pair plasma experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Resolution enhancement in transmission electron microscopy with 60-kV monochromated electron source

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at low accelerating voltages is useful to obtain images with low irradiation damage. For a low accelerating voltage, linear information transfer, which determines the resolution for observation of single-layered materials, is largely limited by defocus spread, which improves when a narrow energy spread is used in the electron source. In this study, we have evaluated the resolution of images obtained at 60 kV by TEM performed with a monochromated electron source. The defocus spread has been evaluated by comparing diffractogram tableaux from TEM images obtained under nonmonochromated and monochromated illumination. The information limits for different energy spreads were precisely measured by using diffractograms with a large beam tilt. The result shows that the information limit reaches 0.1 nm with an energy width of 0.10 eV. With this monochromated source and a higher-order aberration corrector, we have obtained images of single carbon atoms in a graphene sheet by TEM at 60 kV.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

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. This photoemission gun can operate at ~200 kV at both room temperature and cryogenic temperature with a corresponding electric field of 10 MV/m, necessary for achieving high quality electron beams without requiring the complexity of guns, e.g., based on RF superconductivity. Furthermore, it hosts a compact photocathode plug compatible with that used in several other laboratories opening the possibility of generating and characterizing electron beam from photocathodes developed at other institutions.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on the Future of Electron Sources, September 8-9, 2016

Electron sources represent an enabling technology for all cutting-edge applications of electron accelerators, two of the most notable ones being the X-ray free electron laser (FEL) and the electron microscope. FELs were enabled by the development of high-brightness electron sources, and they have changed the paradigm for a broad spectrum of scientific research. Electron microscopes have achieved sub-Å spatial resolution through the introduction of a cold field-emitter and aberration correction optics. Further development of these tools to atomic spatial and temporal resolutions is needed to advance atomic and molecular sciences to new levels of precision. Though the field of electron sources is quite mature, both revolutionary and evolutionary advances in electron sources are needed. On September 8-9, 2016, BES sponsored a Workshop on the Future of the Electron Source at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The goal of the workshop was to define the electron source requirements for future XFELs, UED and UEM, and to identify future research and development (R&D) opportunities. More than sixty participants from U.S. national laboratories, academia, and international institutions attended the workshop. The workshop started with four plenary talks covering the status of electron sources, and highlighting the most urgent needs of future X-ray and electron scattering facilities. The talks made it evident that significant progress in electron sources will not only maximize the impact of current facilities, but also enable novel capabilities that can help maintain the U.S. leadership in X-ray and electron-based scattering instrumentation. Four breakout panels addressed the major technical areas of electron sources: (1) science and technology of electron generation, (2) continuous wave (CW) electron sources, (3) pulsed electron sources, and (4) exotic electron sources. Prior to the workshop, the panel co-chairs polled the panelists and other experts in the field and invited them to make recommendations on the most promising ways to advance the field of electron sources. During the workshop, each panel reviewed the proposals and novel ideas submitted. These summaries of the discussions on scientific needs and instrument requirements and their recommendations form the basis of this report.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Rugged spin-polarized electron sources based on negative electron affinity GaAs photocathode with robust Cs 2 Te coating

Photocathodes capable of providing high intensity and highly spin-polarized electron beams with long operational lifetimes are of great interest for the next generation nuclear physics facilities like Electron Ion Colliders. Here, we report on GaAs photocathodes activated by Cs 2 Te, a material well known for its robustness. GaAs activated by Cs 2 Te forms Negative Electron Affinity, and the lifetime for extracted charge is improved by a factor of 5 compared to that of GaAs activated by Cs and O 2 . The spin polarization of photoelectrons was measured using a Mott polarimeter and found to be independent from the activation method, thereby shifting the paradigm on spin-polarized electron sources employing photocathodes with robust coatings.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Magnetized Electron Source for JLEIC Electron Cooler

Bunched-beam electron cooling is a key feature of all proposed designs of the future electron-ion collider, and a requirement for achieving the specified collision luminosity. For the Jefferson Lab Electron Ion Collider (JLEIC), fast cooling of ion beams will be accomplished via so-called 'magnetized cooling' implemented using a recirculator ring that employs an energy recovery linac. In this contribution, we describe the production of magnetized electron beam using a compact 300 kV DC high voltage photogun with an inverted insulator geometry and alkali-antimonide photocathodes. Beam magnetization was assessed using a modest diagnostic beamline that includes YAG view screens for measuring the rotation angle of the electron beamlet passing through a narrow upstream slit. Magnetization characterization including drift emittance were measured for various gun bias voltages and laser spot sizes at the photocathode using 532 nm lasers with DC and RF time structure. With magnetized beam, photocathode lifetime at currents up to 28 mA CW was measured and high bunch charge up to 700 pC was demonstrated.

Mamun, Md Abdullah↗
DOE OSTI2026

Towards advanced polarized electron sources

Polarized electrons play an important role in high-energy and nuclear physics, and their properties have also been exploited in ultrafast electron microscopy. Currently, gallium arsenide crystals illuminated by circular polarized infrared laser light are commonly used for generating polarized electrons. However, the achievable accelerating voltage and the gradient of these electrostatic sources limit the beam quality and quantity. A solution could be to combine gallium arsenide photocathodes with radio-frequency electron guns, which are capable of accelerating beams with significantly higher gradients and voltage. Here we report the successful operation of a gallium arsenide photocathode in a superconducting radio-frequency gun. Our findings are relevant for future sources of polarized electrons.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1982

Radially uniform electron source

A thermionic electron source capable of producing uniform count rates in a number of channel electron multipliers simultaneously was required for conditioning multipliers for an extended space mission. It was found that a straight tungsten filament in the center of a cylindrically symmetric geometry surrounded by an array of multipliers emits a radially asymmetric distribution of electrons that changes with time. A source was developed which successfully produces a time-independent radially uniform distribution of electrons by moving the filament out of the direct line of sight and replacing it with a centrally located electron 'cloud.'

Mccomas, D.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Detailed Modeling of Physical Processes in Electron Sources for Accelerator Applications

At present, electron sources are essential in a wide range of applications – from common technical use to exploring the nature of matter. Depending on the application requirements, different methods and materials are used to generate electrons. State of-the-art accelerator applications set a number of often-contradicting requirements for electron sources (e.g., high quantum efficiency vs. high spin-polarization, high current density vs. long lifetime, etc). Development of advanced electron sources includes modeling and design of cathodes, material growth, fabrication of cathodes, and cathode testing. The detailed simulation and modeling of physical processes are required in order to shed light on the exact mechanisms of electron emission and to develop new-generation electron sources with optimized efficiency. The purpose of the present work is to study physical processes in prominent electron sources and to develop scientific tools that could be used to predict electron emission from novel nano-structured materials. In particular, the Monte Carlo model has been implemented and used to study photoemission from Negative Electron Affinity (NEA) GaAs widely used to provide spin-polarized electron beams for many accelerator facilities, including Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. According to our best knowledge, this is the first to date scientific tool to simulate the complete from-excitation-to-emission-into-vacuum photoemission of spin-polarized electrons from NEA GaAs based on the details of material band structure. Moreover, an effective image-processing algorithm has been developed and used to study field emission properties of Nitrogen-incorporated UltraNanoCrystalline Diamond ((N)UNCD) films. The algorithm processes large sets of image micrographs representing field emission sites formed on the anode plate and therefore provides significant information about the field emission area and the current density. The field emission model from convenient semiconductors has been modified and used to study the influence of the space-charge region and the electric-field-dependent electron mobility on the field emission characteristics of (N)UNCD field emitters.

Chubenko, Oksana↗
DOE OSTI2016

Experimental Development of Low-emittance Field-emission Electron Sources

Field emission electron sources are capable of extreme brightness when excited by static or time-dependent electro- magnetic fields. We are currently developing a cathode test stand operating in DC mode with possibility to trigger the emission using ultra-short (~ 100-fs) laser pulses. This contribution describes the status of an experiment to investigate field-emission using cathodes under development at NIU in collaboration with the Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Extreme high vacuum for polarized electron sources

Nuclear physics experiments often require highly polarized electron beams to do precise measurements of the structure and size of nucleons and the nucleus, as well as for searches for physics beyond the standard model. Jefferson Lab?s electron source, with polarization near 90%, has been providing polarized electron beams for CEBAF for over two decades. Development is underway for polarized electron sources at MESA at Mainz and the Electron Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Lab, and there is potential for polarized electron beam in the future at facilities including the International Linear Collider, an electron upgrade at CERN, and the SuperKEKB collider in Japan. At Jefferson Lab there are even plans to make use of polarized electrons to make a polarized positron source for experimental nuclear physics. High polarization electron beams are generated using photoemission from strained superlattice GaAs based photocathodes, and photocathode lifetime is limited by the ionization of residual gas in the system, which is then accelerated into the photocathode. Extreme high vacuum (near 1x10-10 Pa) is required to operate the Jefferson Lab polarized electron source with an acceptable lifetime, and the upcoming projects will need various combinations of higher current, higher bunch charge and longer photocathode lifetimes. To meet the vacuum requirements for polarized electron sources, every component for a polarized electron source must be optimized, including chamber materials, pumps, bakeout procedure and the high voltage electrode geometry and processing. Each change in these components must be evaluated offline before being used in the accelerator, and effects on pressure are difficult to evaluate even using XHV-optimized hot filament ionization gauges. In fact, we do not get a final evaluation of system modifications until an electron source is built, installed and lifetime measurements are made over the course of months or years of operation. I will be discussing the evolution of vacuum in the Jefferson Lab polarized source system toward XHV pressures and discuss the characterization and limitations measured for commercially available XHV vacuum gauges. Finally, I?ll present the effect of system pressure on photocathode lifetime and highlight how XHV pressure standards can benefit the ongoing efforts to improve vacuum for the next generation of polarized electron sources.

Stutzman, Marcy↗