Ultrashort microbunch electron source

A new type of electron beam source is proposed that combines a DC field and AC field from a laser beam in between the anode-cathode gap. Prior researchers have demonstrated the ability for this configuration to produce ultrashort electron microbunches from field emission when the AC field adds constructively with the DC field. Our new source improves upon this basic scheme by creating mono-energetic electrons with low emittance that are suitable for feeding into dielectric and vacuum laser accelerators, photonic bandgap accelerators, and dielectric wakefield accelerators. The microbunches will have a length that is a fraction of the laser wavelength, corresponding to fs pulse durations. They are also produced as a train of microbunches separated by the period of the laser length and lasting for the duration of the laser pulse.