High repetition rate sub ns-electron pulses from Resonant Pulsed Rydberg Field Ionization

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel resonant pulsed Rydberg field-ionization technique that produces high-repetition-rate, sub-nanosecond electron pulses with potential applications in advanced microscopy and spectroscopy.

Contribution

The paper presents a new method combining CW laser excitation with pulsed electric fields to generate low-energy, high-repetition-rate electron bunches from Rydberg states in cesium atoms.

Findings

Achieved sub-250 ps electron pulse duration.

Generated electron pulses at approximately 10 MHz repetition rate.

Demonstrated flexibility in ionization rate and pulse timing.

Abstract

Using Resonant Pulsed Rydberg Field-ionization (RPRFI) technique, we generate low-energy electron bunches at high repetition rates. By combining continuous-wave laser excitation with a pulsed electric field, this method selectively ionizes Rydberg-Stark states in cesium atoms, producing sub-ns long electron bunches (down to $\sim 250\:\textrm{ps}$) at a repetition rate of $\sim 10\:\textrm{MHz}$. The method is demonstrated to offer significant advantages in terms of flexibility in the ionization repetition rate and pulse delay adjustments. The RPRFI method holds promise for applications in high-resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopy, potentially for overcoming the limitations of traditional electron sources in terms of brightness and energy spread.