High repetition rate sub ns-electron pulses from Resonant Pulsed Rydberg Field Ionization

Abstract

Using Resonant Pulsed Rydberg Field-ionization (RPRFI) technique, we generate low-energy electron bunches at high repetition rates. By combining continuous-wave laser excitation with a pulsed electric field, this method selectively ionizes Rydberg-Stark states in cesium atoms, producing sub-ns long electron bunches (down to $\sim 250\:\textrm{ps}$) at a repetition rate of $\sim 10\:\textrm{MHz}$. The method is demonstrated to offer significant advantages in terms of flexibility in the ionization repetition rate and pulse delay adjustments. The RPRFI method holds promise for applications in high-resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopy, potentially for overcoming the limitations of traditional electron sources in terms of brightness and energy spread.