A method is disclosed for producing an electron emitter (1) with a component surface (3) of which is coated with a coating (2) that contains nanorods (4, 7), in particular carbon nanotubes. According to said method, an elastomer film is applied and is then peeled off to obtain a surface from which carbon nanotubes (7) with an upright orientation project upward from an inorganic and electrically conductive adhesive layer (5). In another example, an overall coating region of the electron emitter (1) has an average number (n) of carbon nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation that project upward from the electrically conductive adhesive layer (5), the number of nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation per mm.sup.2 protruding from the adhesive layer deviating from the average value (n) by not more than 25% for each partial coating region of a size of at least 10.sup.8 mm.sup.2.

An ultraviolet (UV) sensitive photocathode includes a support structure, and an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating on the support structure. A method produces the UV sensitive photocathode. A UV sensitive detector is for measuring UV radiation and includes the UV sensitive photocathode.

A method is disclosed for producing an electron emitter (1) with a component surface (3) of which is coated with a coating (2) that contains nanorods (4, 7), in particular carbon nanotubes. According to said method, an elastomer film is applied and is then peeled off to obtain a surface from which carbon nanotubes (7) with an upright orientation project upward from an inorganic and electrically conductive adhesive layer (5). In another example, an overall coating region of the electron emitter (1) has an average number (n) of carbon nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation that project upward from the electrically conductive adhesive layer (5), the number of nanotubes (7) with a predominantly upright orientation per mm.sup.2 protruding from the adhesive layer deviating from the average value (n) by not more than 25% for each partial coating region of a size of at least 10.sup.8 mm.sup.2.

An ultraviolet (UV) sensitive photocathode includes a support structure, and an amorphous diamond-like carbon coating on the support structure. A method produces the UV sensitive photocathode. A UV sensitive detector is for measuring UV radiation and includes the UV sensitive photocathode.

Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for generating electrons. For example, certain embodiments comprise a charge gating diamond QED based electron source, which can be suspended within the RF cavity of an electron injection system in a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) electron accelerator. Embodiments of the disclosed technology are capable of producing low temperature (cold) electron beams, where temperature refers to the transverse energy in the extracted electron beam (or beam emittance). Embodiments of the disclosed technology can also exhibit enhanced charge replenishment capabilities by virtue of the material selected to suspend the electron source within the RF cavity of the electron injection system.