The invention relates to an electron source comprising a conductive substrate, a conductor disposed facing the substrate, the electron source emitting an electron beam when the conductor is positively biased with respect to the substrate, and an electrically insulating crystal arranged on the substrate, facing the conductor, the substrate defining with the crystal a void including at least one peak located at a distance from the crystal, the crystal having, in a plane parallel to the substrate, dimensions of less than 100 nm and a thickness of less than 50 nm.

A photoinjector system containing modularly-structured waveguide-mode launcher, which is reversibly connected to the RF gun (containing a tubular construction formed with disattachably-affixed to one another structurally-complementary halves); and a solenoid magnet in operation enclosing such tubular structure in a central hollow. The resulting quality, power, and frequency rate of operation as well as cost of manufacturing and operation of the system are superior as compared with those of a related art system.

A photoinjector system containing modularly-structured waveguide-mode launcher, which is reversibly connected to the RF gun (containing a tubular construction formed with disattachably-affixed to one another structurally-complementary halves); and a solenoid magnet in operation enclosing such tubular structure in a central hollow. The resulting quality, power, and frequency rate of operation as well as cost of manufacturing and operation of the system are superior as compared with those of a related art system.

A cathode mechanism of an electron gun includes a crystal to emit a thermal electron from an end surface by being heated, a holding part to hold the crystal in a state where the end surface is exposed and at least a part of other surfaces of the crystal is covered, a first supporting post and a second supporting post each to support the holding part and extend while maintaining an unchanged sectional size, a first base part to fix the first supporting post, and a second base part to fix the second supporting post, wherein the holding part, the first supporting post, the second supporting post, the first base part, and the second base part are formed in an integrated structure made of the same material, and the crystal is heated by supplying a current to the integrated structure.

A cathode mechanism of an electron gun includes a crystal to emit a thermal electron from an end surface by being heated, a holding part to hold the crystal in a state where the end surface is exposed and at least a part of other surfaces of the crystal is covered, a first supporting post and a second supporting post each to support the holding part and extend while maintaining an unchanged sectional size, a first base part to fix the first supporting post, and a second base part to fix the second supporting post, wherein the holding part, the first supporting post, the second supporting post, the first base part, and the second base part are formed in an integrated structure made of the same material, and the crystal is heated by supplying a current to the integrated structure.

An apparatus for coupling to an input connection of an electron gun, the input connection having a heater terminal and a cathode terminal, includes: a connector having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the connector is configured to attach to a cable; wherein the second end of the connector is configured to connect to the input connection of the electron gun; and wherein the connector comprises an opening configured to receive the heater terminal of the input connection of the electron gun.

A photoinjector system containing modularly-structured waveguide-mode launcher, which is reversibly connected to the RF gun (containing a tubular construction formed with disattachably-affixed to one another structurally-complementary halves); and a solenoid magnet in operation enclosing such tubular structure in a central hollow. The resulting quality, power, and frequency rate of operation as well as cost of manufacturing and operation of the system are superior as compared with those of a related art system.

Radial radio frequency (RF) electron guns and radial RF electron gun systems are provided that are capable of generating an electron beam that can propagate either radially inward, towards the axis of a cylinder, or radially outward from the axis. A beam source capable of generating a radially inwardly propagating electron beam, while perhaps not particularly useful as a source for a higher-energy accelerator, offers potential advantages for materials processing, as the geometry allows irradiation from all sides of an enclosed material flow with a single structure. Other potential applications include, but are not limited to, atmospheric plasma generation, radiation damage testing, and possibly, novel electron lens-type devices for hadron accelerators.

Disclosed are methods and devices suitable for producing an electron beam.

An apparatus for coupling to an input connection of an electron gun, the input connection having a heater terminal and a cathode terminal, includes: a connector having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the connector is configured to attach to a cable; wherein the second end of the connector is configured to connect to the input connection of the electron gun; and wherein the connector comprises an opening configured to receive the heater terminal of the input connection of the electron gun.