Measurements of Photocathode Operational Lifetime at Beam Currents up to 10 mA using an Improved DC High Voltage GaAs Photogun

This work extends past research at Jefferson Lab aimed at better appreciating the mechanisms that limit photocathode operational lifetime at high current (> 1 mA). Specifically, the performance of an improved 100 kV DC high voltage load locked photogun will be described. Although difficult to measure directly, we believe the new gun has better vacuum conditions compared to the original gun, as indicated by enhanced photocathode lifetimes exceeding 2000 C using a 1.55 mm diameter drive laser spot at the photocathode. In addition, the dependence of the lifetime on the laser spot size at the photocathode was measured and a charge density lifetime exceeding 106 C/cm2 was measured with a 0.32 mm laser spot diameter.