Activation of GaAs with a Cs-Te thin film

GaAs cathodes with thin-film Negative Electron Affinity (NEA) surfaces affixed have been used to generate spin-polarized electron beams for decades, but still suffer from short lifetimes. Heterojunction NEA surfaces have shown promise in improving cathode lifetimes, but further optimization of cathode activation and surface deposition is possible. Here we report the results of cathode activation with evaporative deposition of a CsTe surface performed at Hiroshima University.