New Spin-Polarized Electron Source Based on Alkali Antimonide Photocathode

New spin-dependent photoemission properties of alkali antimonide semiconductor cathodes are predicted based on the detected optical spin orientation effect and DFT band structure calculations. Using these results, the Na_{2}KSb/Cs_{3}Sb heterostructure is designed as a spin-polarized electron source in combination with the Al_{0.11}Ga_{0.89}As target as a spin detector with spatial resolution. In the Na_{2}KSb/Cs_{3}Sb photocathode, spin-dependent photoemission properties were established through detection of a high degree of photoluminescence polarization and high polarization of the photoemitted electrons. It was found that the multi-alkali photocathode can provide electron beams with emittance very close to the limits imposed by the electron thermal energy. The vacuum tablet-type sources of spin-polarized electrons have been proposed for accelerators, which can exclude the construction of the photocathode growth chambers for photoinjectors.