The objective of this research is for the PI to strengthen skills related to proposal preparation for NSF. A preliminary investigation of multi-layered pulsed photocathodes will be the scientific thrust of the proposals written during the planning grant period. Laser driven photoelectron sources can be pulsed at very high rates and are capable of simultaneously achieving high brightness, long lifetime, and resistance to poor vacuum conditions. Lanthanum Hexaboride is a low work function material that can be used to make efficient photoemitters. At present, most of the work on these photoemitters has been centered on the large area, bulk, surface photoemission properties. The details of the photoemission process for multi-layered, transmission mode Lanthanum Hexaboride photocathodes and photo-assisted microelectronic field emission cathodes will be investigated as a long term goal. The long term activities of proposed investigation involves fabricating and measuring the electrical and material properties of a variety of vertical and lateral cathode structures.
