Method for expeditiously processing a sodium-potassium-cesium-antimony photocathode

Abstract

A method is provided for making a photocathode including the step of forming a base layer including antimony on a substrate. Sodium is then evaporated at an elevated temperature onto the base layer such that the sensitivity increases to a value which is less than a peak value. At an intermediate temperature potassium is evaporated to a first peak value of sensitivity. Antimony and potassium are alternately evaporated until a second peak value of sensitivity is achieved. At the above-mentioned intermediate temperature, cesium is evaporated to a third peak value of sensitivity. Antimony and cesium are alternately evaporated until a fourth peak value of sensitivity is attained. The photocathode is slow cooled from the intermediate temperature to a second intermediate temperature at which point the cooling rate is increased in order to permit the photocathode to reach room temperature.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.