Author: Kirby, R.E.
Paper Title Page
TUPC043 SEM Field Emission Probe Surface Science Study 1096
 
  • L. Laurent, R.E. Kirby, S.G. Tantawi
    SLAC, Menlo Park, California, USA
 
  Funding: This work is supported by Department of Energy Contract No. DE-AC03- 76SF00515.
After decades of rf breakdown research, a common acknowledgement among researchers is that a better understanding of what is happening on the surface at a microscopic level needs to be the impetus for future studies. We are designing and fabricating an electron microscope-based high-electric-field current-emission probe to study topographic material features which will enable us to better understand and further advance the technology of high-brightness photocathode rf guns and enable the study of high gradient phenomena. The SEM field emission probe will provide an important diagnostic tool allowing cathodes and high gradient surfaces to be evaluated before and after testing and will help identify and understand the relationship between high field emission locations and vacuum breakdown, non-uniform emission, surface cracking, hotspots, etc. The preliminary results and 2012 goals will be presented.