Schottky-enabled photoemission in a rf accelerator photoinjector: possible generation of ultralow transverse thermal-emittance electron beam.

We present a clear signature of the Schottky effect in a rf photoinjector using photons with energy lower than the Mg cathode work function. This signature is manifested by the shift in the rf phase angle for the onset of the detection of photoelectrons via single-photon absorption and allows for a reasonable estimate of the field enhancement factor. This is a viable method to generate an electron beam with very low thermal emittance and thus, a high brightness beam.