Narrow-band pulsed electron source based on near-threshold photoionization of Cs in a magneto-optical trap

The newly developed method of time-of-flight (ToF) momentum microscopy was used to analyse the cold electron emission from a Cs 3D magneto-optical trap (MOT). Three-step resonant photoionization was implemented via two intermediate states (6P3/2 pumped with 852 nm laser and 7S1/2 with 1470 nm) and a tuneable femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser for the final ionization step. The magnetic field of the MOT is switched off during the photoionization step. The natural bandwidth of the fs-laser is reduced to 4 meV using optical spectral filters. Precise tuning of the photon energy makes it possible to observe the transition regime between direct photoemission into the open continuum and field induced i…