Planar Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Field Emitter in Accelerator RF Electron Injector: Performance Metrics

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the effective use of nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond as a planar field emitter in a 1.3 GHz RF electron gun, achieving high current, good beam quality, and stability over extensive pulsing.

Contribution

First application of (N)UNCD as a planar RF electron emitter in an accelerator, showing promising performance metrics and stability.

Findings

Achieved peak currents of 1-80 mA at 45-65 MV/m surface gradients.

Beam emittance measured at 1.5 mm×mrad/mm-rms.

Stable operation over 36,000 RF pulses.

Abstract

A case performance study of a planar field emission cathode (FEC) based on nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond, (N)UNCD, was carried out in an RF 1.3 GHz electron gun. The FEC was a 100 nm (N)UNCD film grown on a 20 mm diameter stainless steel disk with a Mo buffer layer. At surface gradients 45-65 MV/m, peak currents of 1-80 mA (equivalent to 0.3-25 mA/cm$^2$) were achieved. Imaging with two YAG screens confirmed emission from the (N)UNCD surface with (1) the beam emittance of 1.5 mm$\times$mrad/mm-rms, and (2) longitudinal FWHM and rms energy spread of 0.7% and 11% at an electron energy of 2 MeV. Current stability was tested over the course of 36$\times$10$^3$ RF pulses (equivalent to 288$\times$10$^6$ GHz oscillations).