Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Electron sources or cathodes, that is devices that emit electrons into vacuum, have an extremely wide range of applications. High-power, high-speed components used in broadcasting, satellite communications, radar, accelerators and microwave ovens use vacuum electronics. Electron microscopy and lithography are ubiquitous in the electronic chip industry. X-ray tubes are essential to medical imaging. Electron beam welding and machining are commonplace in the manufacturing, energy, automotive and aerospace sectors. Electron beam flue gas treatment is one of the most promising technologies for removal of nitrogen and sulphur oxides, which cause acid rain and low-level smog, from industrial emissions. Controlled electron sources are also required in emerging areas such as vacuum nanoelectronics, free-electron lasers, field-emission displays and quantum information processing. In almost all of the above applications, the performance bottleneck is the cathode. Moreover, often cathodes are needed that emit electrons in bunches (or pulses) with precise control over emission time and number of emitted electrons. The applicants are working on a variety of electron sources based on materials known as carbon nanotubes. These materials are ideal candidates for electron sources and we have already demonstrated their potential in acting as electron sources when illuminated by laser light. Our rapidly expanding research program targets a variety of applications, including air pollution removal, welding, machining; integrated vacuum nanoelectronics; time-resolved electron microscopy and high-throughput lithography. In order to create the short pulses of electrons needed for these applications and study the dynamic behaviour of the electron emission phenomena that happen at the femto second time scale, we must illuminate our sources with short laser pulses. We are requesting a Titanium:Sapphire oscillator for pulse generation, as well as the necessary ultra-fast optical components for guiding the pulses. This equipment will be integrated into our existing ultra-high vacuum electron source characterization infrastructure.