Electron Transport and Emission in Diamond

The diamond amplified photocathode has the potential to dramatically increase the average current available from photoinjectors, perhaps to the amphere-class performance necessary for flux-competitive fourth-generation light sources. Electron emission from a diamond amplifier has been observed from hydrogen-terminated diamond, using both photons and electrons to generate carriers. The diamond electron amplifier has been demonstrated, with an emission gain of 40. Very high average current densities (>10 A/cm²) have been transported through the diamond using x-ray generated carriers. The device relies on high-purity intrinsic diamond with low crystalline defect density, as well as a negative electron affinity achieved by hydrogen termination. The effects of diamond purity and crystalline defects on charge transport in the material, and emission from the diamond surface have been studied using a number of techniques and the process is now well understood. The electron affinity of diamond has been measured to be -1.1 eV; the fraction of the electrons produced in the material which are emitted from the surface has also been measured.
Proceedings of the 1st International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2010, Kyoto, Japan