title: Ultraviolet stimulated electron source for use with low energy plasma instrument calibration.
abstract: We have developed and demonstrated a versatile, compact electron source that can produce a mono-energetic electron beam up to 50 mm in diameter from 0.1 to 30 keV with an energy spread of <10 eV. By illuminating a metal cathode plate with a single near ultraviolet light emitting diode, a spatially uniform electron beam with 15% variation over 1 cm(2) can be generated. A uniform electric field in front of the cathode surface accelerates the electrons into a beam with an angular divergence of <1° at 1 keV. The beam intensity can be controlled from 10 to 10(9) electrons cm(-2) s(-1).
authors.affiliation: Space Science and Applications, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA. kch@lanl.gov
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Herb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funsten
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: MacDonald