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We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%-35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit-the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%-35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit-the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%-35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit-the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%-35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit-the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

We report an unusual regime of emittance self-compensation in an electron bunch generated in the blow-out mode by a radio-frequency photocathode gun. This regime is observed for a strong space-charge field on the cathode reaching around 30%-35% of the accelerating field. Simulations clearly show an initial growth and a subsequent self-compensation of projected emittance in a divergent electron bunch originating from the effects of: (a) strong space-charge forces of mirror charges on the cathode, (b) an energy chirp in the bunch and (c) substantial re-shaping of the electron bunch. Furthermore, we show analytically and numerically how a complex interplay between these effects leads to emittance self-compensation at the gun exit-the effect that is normally observed only in the presence of focusing fields.

The operation of Ultrafast Electron Diffractometers (UEDs) and Free-Electron Lasers (FELs) relies on high-brightness electron beams produced by radio-frequency (RF) photocathode guns. The next generation of high-repetition rate UEDs and FELs requires electron beams with a high average brightness. To this end, we introduce a continuous wave RF photocathode gun at 325 MHz with an APEX-like geometry. The gun allows for the production of electron beams with very high both peak and average 5D brightness while having moderate RF power consumption. The gun is operated in blowout regime with an energy gain of 0.4 MeV and a peak cathode field of 35 MV/m. Via massive numerical simulations, we exemplify three regimes of the gun operation: (i) 160 fC electron beams with a 5-nm-scale emittance for UEDs, (ii) 1.6 pC beams with a 20-nm-scale emittance for table-top FELs and dielectric-based accelerators, and (iii) 16 pC beams with a 50-nm-scale emittance for inverse Compton sources and other accelerator-based photon sources. We introduce a simple analytical model for the formation of the virtual cathode - the onset of the suppression of photoemission current due to space-charge forces. The model accounts for the laser pulse duration. Furthermore, our extensive numerical simulations indicate a well-pronounced maximum in the 5D beam brightness for the laser spot radius approximately 150% of that corresponding to the onset of the virtual cathode. The finding does not support the common approach in the literature that in the blowout regime the laser spot radius must be much larger than the critical radius corresponding to the virtual cathode onset.

The operation of Ultrafast Electron Diffractometers (UEDs) and Free-Electron Lasers (FELs) relies on high-brightness electron beams produced by radio-frequency (RF) photocathode guns. The next generation of high-repetition rate UEDs and FELs requires electron beams with a high average brightness. To this end, we introduce a continuous wave RF photocathode gun at 325 MHz with an APEX-like geometry. The gun allows for the production of electron beams with very high both peak and average 5D brightness while having moderate RF power consumption. The gun is operated in blowout regime with an energy gain of 0.4 MeV and a peak cathode field of 35 MV/m. Via massive numerical simulations, we exemplify three regimes of the gun operation: (i) 160 fC electron beams with a 5-nm-scale emittance for UEDs, (ii) 1.6 pC beams with a 20-nm-scale emittance for table-top FELs and dielectric-based accelerators, and (iii) 16 pC beams with a 50-nm-scale emittance for inverse Compton sources and other accelerator-based photon sources. We introduce a simple analytical model for the formation of the virtual cathode - the onset of the suppression of photoemission current due to space-charge forces. The model accounts for the laser pulse duration. Furthermore, our extensive numerical simulations indicate a well-pronounced maximum in the 5D beam brightness for the laser spot radius approximately 150% of that corresponding to the onset of the virtual cathode. The finding does not support the common approach in the literature that in the blowout regime the laser spot radius must be much larger than the critical radius corresponding to the virtual cathode onset.

The operation of Ultrafast Electron Diffractometers (UEDs) and Free-Electron Lasers (FELs) relies on high-brightness electron beams produced by radio-frequency (RF) photocathode guns. The next generation of high-repetition rate UEDs and FELs requires electron beams with a high average brightness. To this end, we introduce a continuous wave RF photocathode gun at 325 MHz with an APEX-like geometry. The gun allows for the production of electron beams with very high both peak and average 5D brightness while having moderate RF power consumption. The gun is operated in blowout regime with an energy gain of 0.4 MeV and a peak cathode field of 35 MV/m. Via massive numerical simulations, we exemplify three regimes of the gun operation: (i) 160 fC electron beams with a 5-nm-scale emittance for UEDs, (ii) 1.6 pC beams with a 20-nm-scale emittance for table-top FELs and dielectric-based accelerators, and (iii) 16 pC beams with a 50-nm-scale emittance for inverse Compton sources and other accelerator-based photon sources. We introduce a simple analytical model for the formation of the virtual cathode - the onset of the suppression of photoemission current due to space-charge forces. The model accounts for the laser pulse duration. Furthermore, our extensive numerical simulations indicate a well-pronounced maximum in the 5D beam brightness for the laser spot radius approximately 150% of that corresponding to the onset of the virtual cathode. The finding does not support the common approach in the literature that in the blowout regime the laser spot radius must be much larger than the critical radius corresponding to the virtual cathode onset.

The operation of Ultrafast Electron Diffractometers (UEDs) and Free-Electron Lasers (FELs) relies on high-brightness electron beams produced by radio-frequency (RF) photocathode guns. The next generation of high-repetition rate UEDs and FELs requires electron beams with a high average brightness. To this end, we introduce a continuous wave RF photocathode gun at 325 MHz with an APEX-like geometry. The gun allows for the production of electron beams with very high both peak and average 5D brightness while having moderate RF power consumption. The gun is operated in blowout regime with an energy gain of 0.4 MeV and a peak cathode field of 35 MV/m. Via massive numerical simulations, we exemplify three regimes of the gun operation: (i) 160 fC electron beams with a 5-nm-scale emittance for UEDs, (ii) 1.6 pC beams with a 20-nm-scale emittance for table-top FELs and dielectric-based accelerators, and (iii) 16 pC beams with a 50-nm-scale emittance for inverse Compton sources and other accelerator-based photon sources. We introduce a simple analytical model for the formation of the virtual cathode - the onset of the suppression of photoemission current due to space-charge forces. The model accounts for the laser pulse duration. Furthermore, our extensive numerical simulations indicate a well-pronounced maximum in the 5D beam brightness for the laser spot radius approximately 150% of that corresponding to the onset of the virtual cathode. The finding does not support the common approach in the literature that in the blowout regime the laser spot radius must be much larger than the critical radius corresponding to the virtual cathode onset.

The operation of Ultrafast Electron Diffractometers (UEDs) and Free-Electron Lasers (FELs) relies on high-brightness electron beams produced by radio-frequency (RF) photocathode guns. The next generation of high-repetition rate UEDs and FELs requires electron beams with a high average brightness. To this end, we introduce a continuous wave RF photocathode gun at 325 MHz with an APEX-like geometry. The gun allows for the production of electron beams with very high both peak and average 5D brightness while having moderate RF power consumption. The gun is operated in blowout regime with an energy gain of 0.4 MeV and a peak cathode field of 35 MV/m. Via massive numerical simulations, we exemplify three regimes of the gun operation: (i) 160 fC electron beams with a 5-nm-scale emittance for UEDs, (ii) 1.6 pC beams with a 20-nm-scale emittance for table-top FELs and dielectric-based accelerators, and (iii) 16 pC beams with a 50-nm-scale emittance for inverse Compton sources and other accelerator-based photon sources. We introduce a simple analytical model for the formation of the virtual cathode - the onset of the suppression of photoemission current due to space-charge forces. The model accounts for the laser pulse duration. Furthermore, our extensive numerical simulations indicate a well-pronounced maximum in the 5D beam brightness for the laser spot radius approximately 150% of that corresponding to the onset of the virtual cathode. The finding does not support the common approach in the literature that in the blowout regime the laser spot radius must be much larger than the critical radius corresponding to the virtual cathode onset.