Performance of a DC GaAs photocathode gun for the jefferson lab FEL

The performance of the 320 kV DC photocathode gun has met the design specifications for the I kW IR Demo FEL at Jefferson Lab. This gun has shown the ability to deliver high average current beam with outstanding lifetimes. The GaAs photocathode has delivered 135 pC per bunch, at a bunch repetition rate of 37.425 MHz, corresponding to 5 mA average CW current. In a recent cathode lifetime measurement, 20 h of CW beam was delivered with an average current of 3.1 mA and 211 C of total charge from a 0.283 cm(2) illuminated spot. The cathode showed a Ile lifetime of 58 h and a 1/e extracted charge lifetime of 618 C. We have achieved quantum efficiencies of 5% from a GaAs wafer that has been in service for 13 months delivering in excess 2400 C with only three activation cycles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.