Nano-patterned superconducting surface for high quantum efficiency cathode
AssigneeJefferson Science Associates, LLC
InventorsFay Hannon, Pietro Musumeci
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Abstract
A method for providing a superconducting surface on a laser-driven niobium cathode in order to increase the effective quantum efficiency. The enhanced surface increases the effective quantum efficiency by improving the laser absorption of the surface and enhancing the local electric field. The surface preparation method makes feasible the construction of superconducting radio frequency injectors with niobium as the photocathode. An array of nano-structures are provided on a flat surface of niobium. The nano-structures are dimensionally tailored to interact with a laser of specific wavelength to thereby increase the electron yield of the surface.
Claims12
A method for providing a superconducting surface on a laser-driven cathode in order to increase the effective quantum efficiency, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plug constructed of niobium;
- polishing a first side of the niobium plug to create a polished surface;
- creating an array of nano-holes in the polished surface to form a nano-patterned surface;
- and
- setting the width, depth, and spacing of the nano-holes according to the wavelength and angle of incidence of the incident laser to increase the absorption of the laser light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.