Simulations of the temporal and spatial resolution for a compact time-resolved electron diffractometer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Simulations of the temporal and spatial resolution for a compact time-resolved electron diffractometer

AU - Robinson, Matthew S.

AU - Lane, Paul D.

AU - Wann, Derek A.

N1 - © 2016 IOP Press. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

PY - 2016/1/8

Y1 - 2016/1/8

N2 - A novel compact electron gun for use in time-resolved gas electron diffraction experiments has recently been designed and commissioned. In this paper we present and discuss the extensive simulations that were performed to underpin the design in terms of the spatial and temporal qualities of the pulsed electron beam created by the ionisation of a gold photocathode using a femtosecond laser. The response of the electron pulses to a solenoid lens used to focus the electron beam has also been studied. The simulated results show that focussing the electron beam affects the overall spatial and temporal resolution of the experiment in a variety of ways, and that factors that improve the resolution of one parameter can often have a negative effect on the other. A balance must, therefore, be achieved between spatial and temporal resolution. The optimal experimental time resolution for the apparatus is predicted to be 416 fs for studies of gas-phase species, while the predicted spatial resolution of better than 2 nm-1 compares well with traditional time-averaged electron diffraction set-ups.

AB - A novel compact electron gun for use in time-resolved gas electron diffraction experiments has recently been designed and commissioned. In this paper we present and discuss the extensive simulations that were performed to underpin the design in terms of the spatial and temporal qualities of the pulsed electron beam created by the ionisation of a gold photocathode using a femtosecond laser. The response of the electron pulses to a solenoid lens used to focus the electron beam has also been studied. The simulated results show that focussing the electron beam affects the overall spatial and temporal resolution of the experiment in a variety of ways, and that factors that improve the resolution of one parameter can often have a negative effect on the other. A balance must, therefore, be achieved between spatial and temporal resolution. The optimal experimental time resolution for the apparatus is predicted to be 416 fs for studies of gas-phase species, while the predicted spatial resolution of better than 2 nm-1 compares well with traditional time-averaged electron diffraction set-ups.

KW - spatial resolution

KW - temporal resolution

KW - time-resolved electron diffraction

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84955602319&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/0953-4075/49/3/034003

DO - 10.1088/0953-4075/49/3/034003

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84955602319

SN - 0953-4075

VL - 49

JO - Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

JF - Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

M1 - 034003

ER -