Latest Progress of Laser Driven Photocathode: A Review Study

The latest development of the laser-driven photocathode,an advanced laser technology,was tentatively reviewed.The photocathode driven by laser has been attracting extensive research efforts not only because of its many advantages over the conventional light source,including higher luminance/directivity/monochromatism/laser-coherence,and much stronger photocurrent and remarkable quantum efficiency,but also because of its wide applications in high-energy particle detection and superconducting cavity accelerator.The discussions with specific examples focused on:i)Advanced materials of Na₂KSb,Cs₃Sb,K₂CsSb and Cu photocathodes; ii)Synthesis,fabrication,characterization,and improvement methods of Na₂KS,Cs₃Sb and K₂CsSb photocathodes; and iii) The influence of material-synthesis and device fabrication conditions on quantum efficiency and photoelectric emission life of K₂CsSb and Cu photocathodes.Moreover,the development trends,basis and technological problems,possible solutions and potential applications of laser-driven photocathode were also briefly discussed in a thought provoking way.