Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2017) 132: 18
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2017-11300-9

Regular Article

Analysis of space charge fields using the Lienard-Wiechert potential and the method of images during the photoemission of the electron beam from the cathode

¹ Physics Department, The Hashemite University, 13115, Zarqa, Jordan
² Physics Department, University of Jordan, 11942, Amman, Jordan

^* e-mail: wsalah@hu.edu.jo

Received: 30 September 2016
Accepted: 15 December 2016
Published online: 18 January 2017

Abstract

We present a numerical analysis of the space charge effect and the effect of image charge force on the cathode surface for a laser-driven RF-photocathode gun. In this numerical analysis, in the vicinity of the cathode surface, we used an analytical method based on Lienard-Weichert retarded potentials. The analytical method allows us to calculate longitudinal and radial electric fields, and the azimuth magnetic field due to both space charge effect and the effect of the image charge force. We calculate the electro-magnetic fields in the following two conditions for the “ELSA” photoinjector. The first condition is in the progress of photoemission, which corresponds to the inside of the emitted beam, and the second condition is at the end of the photoemission. The electromagnetic fields due to the space charge effect and the effect of the image charge force, and the sum of them, which corresponds to the global electro-magnetic fields, are shown. Based on these numerical results, we discussed the effects of the space charge and the image charge in the immediate vicinity of the cathode.