Nanosecond length electron pulses from a laser-excited photocathode

A photocathode made from polycrystalline lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) has produced nanosecond length electron pulses when excited by an excimer laser at 308nm. Peak currents in excess of 1A have been observed, with quantum yields of 4 x 10-5 being measured. A method for extracting the electrons from an emission-limited cathode, plasma extraction, has been demonstrated. This technique uses a low power continuous discharge to provide the electric field needed to extract the photoelectrons. This technique may be useful in producing high repetition rate short pulse ion sources. 10 refs., 4 figs