Abstract
Nanometer-sharp metallic tips are known to be excellent electron emitters. They are used in highest-resolution electron microscopes in cold field emission mode to generate the most coherent electron beam in continuous-wave operation. For time-resolved operation, sharp metal needle tips have recently been triggered with femtosecond laser pulses. We show here that electrons emitted with near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses at laser oscillator repetition rates show the same spatial coherence properties as electrons in cold field emission mode in cw operation. From electron interference fringes, obtained with the help of a carbon nanotube biprism beam splitter, we deduce a virtual source size of less than (0.65 +/- 0.06) nm for both operation modes, a factor of ten smaller than the geometrical source size. These results bear promise for ultrafast electron diffraction, ultrafast electron microscopy, and other techniques relying on highly coherent and ultrafast electron beams. Published by AIP Publishing.
Item Type: | Journal article |
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Faculties: | Physics |
Research Centers: | Center for NanoScience (CENS) |
Subjects: | 500 Science > 500 Science 500 Science > 530 Physics |
ISSN: | 0003-6951 |
Language: | English |
Item ID: | 67991 |
Date Deposited: | 19. Jul 2019, 12:23 |
Last Modified: | 04. Nov 2020, 13:50 |