Temporal response of laminated graded-bandgap GaAs-based photocathode with distributed Bragg reflection structure: Model and simulation

To describe the dynamic response characteristics of the laminated graded-bandgap GaAs-based photocathode with distributed Bragg reflection structure, a general theoretical temporal response model is deduced by combining the unsteady continuity equation and numerical calculation method. Through the model, the contribution of the distribution Bragg reflection structure and graded-bandgap emission layer to the temporal response are investigated. Meanwhile, the relationships between the temporal response characteristics of the laminated GaAs-based photocathode and different structural parameters are also analyzed, including average electron decay time, emission layer thickness, and incident light wavelength. It is found that the introduction of distribution Bragg reflection (DBR) layer solves the discrepancy between the absorption capability of the emission layer and the temporal response. Moreover, the distributed Bragg reflection layer can improve the time response by optimizing the initial photoelectron distribution. The improvement effect of the DBR layer on the temporal response is enhanced with the emission layer thickness decreasing or the incident light wavelength increasing. These results explain the effect of the DBR layer of the photocathode on the dynamic characteristics, which can offer a new insight into the dynamic research of GaAs-based photocathode.