We present a novel method of combining the most desirable characteristics of thermionic-cathode and photocathode rf guns, using a field-emission cathode and multiple rf frequencies. Simulations indicate that extremely low-emittance beams (on the order of 2 nm normalized emittance) at moderate beam currents (1 mA) and beam energies of $\sim 2\mathrm{MeV}$ can be obtained using this technique. The resulting gun design promises to be useful as a driver source for a number of applications, including high-voltage electron microscopy, precision electron-beam welding, and long-wavelength (THz) radiation generation; we include performance calculations for the electron microscopy and precision welding applications.

• Received 23 December 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.8.033502

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