PNNL

Abstract

New photocathode materials capable of producing intense and directed electron pulses are needed for development of next generation light sources and dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Ideal photocathodes should have high photoemission quantum efficiency (QE) and be capable of delivering collimated and well-shaped pulses of consistent charge under high-field operating conditions. High-brightness and low-intrinsic emittance electron pulses have been predicted for hybrid metal-insulator photocathode designs constructed from three to four monolayer MgO films on atomically flat silver. Here we use angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy to confirm directional photoemission and a large increase in QE under ultraviolet laser excitation of an ultrathin MgO film on Ag(001). We observe new low-binding energy photoemission, not seen for Ag(001), and greater electron emission in the normal direction. Under 4.66 eV laser excitation, the photoemission quantum efficiency of the MgO/Ag(001) hybrid photocathode is a factor of seven greater than that for clean Ag(001).