Hollow metal tubes for efficient electron manipulation using terahertz surface waves

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Compact electron sources are vital for physics, medicine, and industry.
• Terahertz (THz)-driven electron manipulation shows promise for high-gradient acceleration in dielectric-lined waveguides (DLW).
• Previous methods using THz surface waves achieved high THz energy but suffered from large electron energy spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt THz surface-wave-driven electron manipulation for mature electron sources like DC and RF guns.
• To overcome the limitations of large energy spread in laser-induced electron pulses.
• To develop a more practical and efficient THz-driven electron source.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a scheme extending THz surface-wave concepts to commercial electron guns.
• Utilized a simple hollow cylinder tube for electron transmission.
• Employed a 2.9 mJ single-cycle terahertz pulse for electron manipulation.

Main Results:

• Achieved significant electron energy modulation up to 860 keV.
• Demonstrated electron pulse width compression to 15 femtoseconds (fs).
• The hollow tube design facilitates cascading the system for enhanced performance.

Conclusions:

• The proposed scheme effectively modulates electron energy and compresses pulse width using mature electron sources.
• The hollow tube design offers a practical pathway for compact and efficient THz-driven electron sources.
• This advancement is expected to significantly impact fundamental physics, oncology, and advanced industrial applications.