A UV LED-based fast-pulsed photoelectron source for time-of-flight studies

Abstract

We report on spectroscopy and time-of-flight measurements using an 18 keV fast-pulsed photoelectron source of adjustable intensity, ranging from single photoelectrons per pulse to 5 photoelectrons per μs at pulse repetition rates of up to 10 kHz. Short pulses between 40 ns and 4μs in length were produced by switching light emitting diodes with central output wavelengths of 265 and 257 nm, in the deep ultraviolet (or UV-C) regime, at kHz frequencies. Such photoelectron sources can be useful calibration devices for testing the properties of high-resolution electrostatic spectrometers, like the ones used in current neutrino mass searches. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.