Femtosecond Electron Diffraction: Next generation electron sources for atomically resolved dynamics

Hirscht, Julian

Report/Dissertation / PhD Thesis

PUBDB-2015-03078

Femtosecond Electron Diffraction: Next generation electron sources for atomically resolved dynamics

Hirscht, J. (Corresponding author)>Extern*

2015
Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron Hamburg

Hamburg : Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, DESY-THESIS 238 pp. (2015) [10.3204/DESY-THESIS-2015-032] = Universität Hamburg, Diss., 2015

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3204/DESY-THESIS-2015-032

Report No.: DESY-THESIS-2015-032

Abstract: Three instruments for femtosecond electron diffraction (FED) experiments were erected, partially commissioned and used for first diffraction experiments. The Relativistic Electron Gun for Atomic Exploration (REGAE) was completed by beamline elements including supports, a specimen chamber and dark current or electron beam collimating elements such that the commissioning process, including first diffraction experiments in this context, could be started. The temporal resolution of this machine is simulated to be 25 fs (fwhm) short, while a transverse coherence length of 30 nm (fwhm) is feasible to resolve proteins on this scale. Whether this machine is capable of meeting these predictions or whether the dynamics of the electron beam will stay limited by accelerator components, is not finally determined by the end of this work, because commissioning and improvement of accelerator components is ongoing. Simultaneously, a compact DC electron diffraction apparatus, the E-Gun 300, designed for solid and liquid specimens and a target electron energy of 300 keV, was built. Fundamental design issues of the high potential carrying and beam generating components occurred and are limiting the maximum potential and electron energy to 120 keV. Furthermore, this is limiting the range of possible applications and consequently the design and construction of a brand new instrument began. The Femtosecond Electron Diffraction CAmera for Molecular Movies (FED-CAMM) bridges the performance problems of very high electric potentials and provides optimal operational conditions for all applied electron energies up to 300 keV. The variability of gap spacings and optimized manufacturing of the high voltage electrodes lead to the best possible electron pulse durations obtainable with a compact DC setup, that does not comprise of rf-structures. This third apparatus possesses pulse durations just a few tenth femtoseconds apart from the design limit of the highly relativistic REGAE and combines the advantages of simplicity and stability of a compact FED apparatus with the short temporal resolution of femtosecond accelerators, which are operated with or include rf structures. Simulations of the electron beam dynamics and the fact that the apparatus is stable in respect to high voltages and electric field gradients above 27 MV/m allows the conclusion, that a temporal resolution significantly below 100 fs (fwhm), perhaps even shorter than 70 fs, can be achieved. This instrument currently defines the state-of-the-art. Firstly, because high voltage feedthrough for these potentials are commercially still not available, with a subsequent limiting of the potentials and consequent lowering of the electron numbers per pulse as well as the pulse durations and electron penetration. Secondly, this is because research communities focus on photon and rf-based electron sources for the achievement of sub-100 fs pulses, which typically include timing-jitter. Here it is shown that simple DC acceleration can lead to the same, satisfactory pulse duration up to an energy of a few hundred keV, potentially as high as 800 keV.

Note: Universität Hamburg, Diss., 2015

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