Rf Cycle Research Articles

Factors Influencing the Fluctuation Amplitude of the H− Ion Beam Extracted from an RF Wave Excited Ion Source Plasma

The beam oscillation of J-PARC ion source is being studied as AC electric field at 2 MHz ion source driving frequency can directly change the extraction characteristics of both H− ions and electrons. The internal RF antenna inducing the electric field generated two peaks of plasma production during one RF cycle as confirmed by 4 MHz modulation of Balmer-alpha (Hα) emission intensity. The coupling between the plasma production at 4 MHz and the oscillation of the local plasma potential in the vicinity of the extraction hole at 2 MHz can cause 6 MHz oscillation, which was observed in the measurement of extraction current from the ion source. Phase-delay of Hα intensities from the source plasma and those of the extraction electron current were compared with the RF input signal to the amplifier.

Investigation of sheath structure in surface flashover induced by high-power microwave

Flashover is a major limiting factor for the transmission and miniaturization of high-power microwave (HPM) devices. We conducted a study to investigate the developmental process of surface flashover on HPM dielectric windows through particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo collision simulations. A one-dimensional spatial distribution and three-dimensional velocity distribution model is established, encompassing the entire process of surface flashover, which includes electrode field emission, single-surface multipactor, outgassing, and gas breakdown. The nonuniform mesh generation method is employed to enhance the simulation accuracy. The growth rates of electron and ion densities increase as gas pressure rises. Additionally, the discharge transitions gradually from multipactor to gas ionization dominance. Notably, a space-charge-limited (SCL)-like sheath occasionally forms during an rf cycle near the surface under intermediate background pressure (∼0.05 Torr). The SCL-like sheath cannot exist stably. Instead, it periodically disappears and appears as the rf electric field changes. The underlying physics are explained by the variations of the rf electric field, which lead to the variations in the surface charge density, thereby affecting the normal electric field. The normal electric field interacts with the spatial distribution of charged particles, ultimately leading to the formation of the SCL-like sheath. This work may facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the developmental processes of surface flashover.

Plasma sheath tailoring by a magnetic field for three-dimensional plasma etching

Three-dimensional (3D) etching of materials by plasmas is an ultimate challenge in microstructuring applications. A method is proposed to reach a controllable 3D structure by using masks in front of the surface in a plasma etch reactor in combination with local magnetic fields to steer the incident ions in the plasma sheath region toward the surface to reach 3D directionality during etching and deposition. This effect has the potential to be controlled by modifying the magnetic field and/or plasma properties to adjust the relationship between sheath thickness and mask feature size. However, because the guiding length scale is the plasma sheath thickness, which for typical plasma densities is at least tens of micrometers or larger, controlled directional etching and deposition target the field of microstructuring, e.g., of solids for sensors, optics, or microfluidics. In this proof-of-concept study, it is shown that E→×B→ drifts tailor the local sheath expansion, thereby controlling the plasma density distribution and the transport when the plasma penetrates the mask during an RF cycle. This modified local plasma creates a 3D etch profile. This is shown experimentally as well as using 2d3v particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions simulation.

Whole knee joint mapping using a phase modulated UTE adiabatic T1ρ (PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ ) sequence.

To develop a 3D phase modulated UTE adiabatic T1ρ (PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ ) sequence for whole knee joint mapping on a clinical 3 T scanner. This new sequence includes six major features: (1) a magnetization reset module, (2) a train of adiabatic full passage pulses for spin locking, (3) a phase modulation scheme (i.e., RF cycling pair), (4) a fat saturation module, (5) a variable flip angle scheme, and (6) a 3D UTE Cones sequence for data acquisition. A simple exponential fitting was used for T1ρ quantification. Phantom studies were performed to investigate PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ 's sensitivity to compositional changes and reproducibility as well as its correlation with continuous wave-T1ρ measurement. The PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ technique was then applied to five ex vivo and five in vivo normal knees to measure T1ρ values of femoral cartilage, meniscus, posterior cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, patellar tendon, and muscle. The phantom study demonstrated PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ 's high sensitivity to compositional changes, its high reproducibility, and its strong linear correlation with continuous wave-T1ρ measurement. The ex vivo and in vivo knee studies demonstrated average T1ρ values of 105.6 ± 8.4 and 77.9 ± 3.9 ms for the femoral cartilage, 39.2 ± 5.1 and 30.1 ± 2.2 ms for the meniscus, 51.6 ± 5.3 and 29.2 ± 2.4 ms for the posterior cruciate ligament, 79.0 ± 9.3 and 52.0 ± 3.1 ms for the anterior cruciate ligament, 19.8 ± 4.5 and 17.0 ± 1.8 ms for the patellar tendon, and 91.1 ± 8.8 and 57.6 ± 2.8 ms for the muscle, respectively. The 3D PM-UTE-AdiabT1ρ sequence allows volumetric T1ρ assessment for both short and long T2 tissues in the knee joint on a clinical 3 T scanner.

A 2D steady state analytical model for atmospheric pressure RF plasma jet

This paper presents a 2-dimensional analytical model for plasma inside the discharge tube of an RF atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) in coaxial geometry. Since the model is a steady state one, it requires that the frequency of the applied RF be high enough so that the formation of streamers and plasma bullets is suppressed and that continuous plasma is present throughout the RF cycle. It is also assumed that power absorption is due to electron-atom collisions in the bulk plasma. The model takes into account gas flow, yielding a flow-diffusion axial flux that aids the exit of the plasma into the atmosphere. The inputs to the model are the reactor dimensions, average power fed (P av ) and the flow velocity of the gas (ug) using which the model yields the plasma density along with its radial and axial profiles, electron temperature, axial and radial particle fluxes, gas heating, flux, and energy of the plasma particles escaping from the discharge tube into the ambient air. Experiments were undertaken on an RF-powered jet at 13.56 MHz. Substituting the average RF power, measured using voltage and current probes, into the model gives the plasma density n ≈ 3.9 × 1017(≅2.8 × 1019)m−3 at for He (Ar). The corresponding electron temperature given by the model is for He (Ar). It is hoped that the developed model would be able to provide a comprehensive methodology for analyzing APPJs.

Computational simulations of spatio—temporal plasma dynamics in a very high frequency capacitively coupled reactor

Abstract The standing wave effect in Very High Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma (VHF CCP) reactors is a major cause of plasma non-uniformity. The nonlinearly excited higher harmonics exacerbate this non-uniformity. In this work we analyze the physical mechanisms of plasma—electromagnetic wave coupling in detail for a single RF cycle of the input electric field. We consider a simplified CCP reactor geometry operated at 100 mTorr and computationally simulate three cases where the bulk electron density increases from order 1015 m−3 to 1017 m−3. We see the appearance of higher harmonics in the B-dot signal with increasing bulk electron density in accordance with recent experimental measurements. By looking at the spatio-temporal variations of different quantities at a periodic steady state, we observe significant changes in the dynamics of current flow, electromagnetic power deposition and ionization rates within the reactor. In particular, as the electron density increases, we see that the current profile in the bulk plasma exhibits a re-circulation pattern that is correlated with the appearance of structural features in the B-dot signal seen in the measurements.

A Linear Paul Trap without the use of the Transverse Quadrupole Field

A detailed experimental study has been conducted to demonstrate the efficient confinement of ions in the popular four-rod configuration of a linear Paul trap without exciting the transverse radio-frequency (rf) quadrupole field. The three-dimensional (3D) ion confinement is achieved with an identical rf voltage applied to the end electrodes. The optimum operating region is visualized in the stability tune diagram, which indicates that a large number of ions can be stored by adjusting a few fundamental parameters. The lifetime of an ion cloud in the present linear trap is over a second (corresponding to a million rf cycles), long enough for various practical applications. It is also shown through 3D numerical simulations that one can easily extract ions from the trap at a low loss rate below 10%.

Ampere-class bright field emission cathode operated at 100 MV/m

High-current bright sources are needed to power the next generation of compact rf and microwave systems. A major requirement is that such sources could be sustainably operated at high frequencies, well above 1 GHz, and high gradients, well above $100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$. Field emission sources offer simplicity and scalability in a high-frequency era of the injector design, but the output rf cycle charge and high-gradient operation remain a great and largely unaddressed challenge. Here, a field emission cathode based on ultra-nano-crystalline diamond, an efficient planar field emission material, was tested at $100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$ in an $L$-band injector. A very high charge of 38 pC per rf cycle was demonstrated (300 nC per rf pulse corresponding to an rf pulse current of 120 mA). This operating condition revealed a two-dimensional space charge limited emission where the one-dimensional Child-Langmuir limit was surpassed. An injector brightness of ${10}^{14}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{A}/(\mathrm{rad}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}{)}^{2}$ was estimated for the given operating conditions.

Radial spatiotemporal evolution of rf magnetic field and plasma current in a very-high-frequency plasma source over a wide range of plasma density and pressure.

We present detailed spatiotemporal measurements of rf magnetic fields and plasma conduction current as well as the corresponding plasma density profiles when very-high-frequency 100-MHz waves are introduced to a parallel plate plasma. The magnetic probe, optical emission, and plasma absorption probe measurements support a model in which the interaction of high-frequency waves with the moving plasma sheath at specific phases of the very high frequencies (VHF) period leads to local reversals in the vertical rf electric field which can lead to conduction current reversals and circulations. The presence of current reversals and circulation correlate with measured plasma uniformity. In particular, measured electric field and current reversals coincide with the strongly center-peaked plasma density profiles frequently observed in VHF plasma. The magnitude of the center peak increases with the number and magnitude of the current reversal cells. The scale length of the current reversal cells is on the order of what is expected for plasma surface waves. Measurements indicate that plasma conductivity is the common scaling factor for both plasma uniformity and the circulation. The propagation of high-frequency waves and the generation of rf current reversal in one phase of the rf cycle rather than another results in the appearance of harmonics in Fourier decomposed magnetic probe wave forms. These harmonics turn out not to be actual waves or evidence of standing waves at these frequencies but rather consequences of packets of wave propagation that occur periodically.

Pushing the capture limit of thermionic gun linacs

Although accelerator technology has matured sufficiently, state-of-the-art X-ray linacs for radiotherapy and cargo-scanning capture merely 30-50% of the electrons from a thermionic cathode, requiring a higher cathode current and leaving uncaptured electrons to cause problems due to back bombardment, shortening of cathode life, etc. Any solution to increase capture should be effective, simple, reliable, compact, and low cost in order to be adopted by industry. To address this, we present the design of a 6 MeV high capture efficiency S-band electron linac that captures 90% of the initial DC beam. This linac does not require any extra parts that would increase the cost as the high efficiency is achieved via a low-field-amplitude in the first bunching cell to decrease the number of backstreaming electrons, to velocity bunch the electron beam, and recapture backstreaming electrons. Under the low field amplitude, any electrons launched at decelerating phases travel backward with low speeds, thus most of them can catch the next RF cycle, and get re-accelerated/recaptured. As the electron speed is low, the cell length is also shorter than existing linacs. Such a short field is achieved by the use of asymmetric cells with differential coupling to the side-coupled cells. Our novel design has implications for all commercial high current thermionic gun linacs for increasing beam current and increasing cathode lifetime.

Loading a Paul Trap: Densities, Capacities, and Scaling in the Saturation Regime

Providing ideal conditions for the study of ion-neutral collisions, we investigate here the properties of the saturated, steady state of a three-dimensional Paul trap, loaded from a magneto-optic trap. In particular, we study three assumptions that are sometimes made under saturated, steady-state conditions: (i) The pseudopotential provides a good approximation for the number, Ns, of ions in the saturation regime, (ii) the maximum of Ns occurs at a loading rate of approximately 1 ion per rf cycle, and (iii) the ion density is approximately constant. We find that none of these assumptions are generally valid. However, based on detailed classical molecular dynamics simulations, and as a function of loading rate and trap control parameter, we show where to find convenient dynamical regimes for ion-neutral collision experiments, or how to rescale to the pseudo-potential predictions. We also investigate the fate of the electrons generated during the loading process and present a new heating mechanism, insertion heating, that in some regimes of trapping and loading may rival and even exceed the rf-heating power of the trap.

A 4-minute solution for submillimeter whole-brain T1ρ quantification.

To develop a robust, accurate, and accelerated T1ρ quantification solution for submillimeter in vivo whole-brain imaging. A multislice T1ρ mapping solution (MS-T1ρ ) was developed based on a two-acquisition scheme using turbo spin echo with RF cycling to allow for whole-brain coverage with 0.8-mm in-plane resolution. A compressed sensing-based fast imaging method, SCOPE, was used to accelerate the MS-T1ρ acquisition time to a total scan time of 3 minutes 31 seconds. A phantom experiment was conducted to assess the accuracy of MS-T1ρ by comparing the T1ρ value obtained using MS-T1ρ with the reference value obtained using the standard single-slice T1ρ mapping method. In vivo scans of 13 volunteers were acquired prospectively to validate the robustness of MS-T1ρ . In the phantom study, the T1ρ values obtained with MS-T1ρ were in good agreement with the reference T1ρ values (R2 = 0.9991) and showed high consistency throughout all slices (coefficient of variation = 2.2 ± 2.43%). In the in vivo experiments, T1ρ maps were successfully acquired for all volunteers with no visually noticeable artifacts. There was no significant difference in T1ρ values between MS-T1ρ acquisitions and fully sampled acquisitions for all brain tissues (p-value > .05). In the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analyses, the accelerated T1ρ measurements show moderate to good agreement to the fully sampled reference values. The proposed MS-T1ρ solution allows for high-resolution whole-brain T1ρ mapping within 4 minutes and may provide a potential tool for investigating neural diseases.

High-energy ballistic electrons in low-pressure radio-frequency plasmas

This work demonstrates the presence of a small number of high-energy ballistic electrons (HEBEs) that originate from secondary electrons in low-pressure radio-frequency (rf) plasmas. The kinetic behaviors of the HEBEs are illustrated through electron energy probability functions from the fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, showing two wavy high-energy tails and two bifurcations during one rf cycle. Test-particle simulations and a semi-analytical method associated with nonlocal electron kinetics are performed to characterize the HEBE trajectories, which reveal the ballistic nature of the HEBEs and their typical bouncing features between the rf sheaths. Parameter dependence of the HEBEs on the discharge conditions (e.g., gas pressure, gap distance, and rf frequency) are identified, which is relevant to the plasma collisionality. With a pronounced presence of HEBEs, the overall impacts of the secondary electron emission on discharge parameters, such as electron power absorption and ionization rate, are also illustrated.

Atmospheric pressure dual RF-LF frequency discharge: influence of LF voltage amplitude on the RF discharge behavior

This work is a contribution to a better understanding of dual frequency discharge at atmospheric pressure. Based on experiments and numerical modeling, it is focused on radio frequency (5 MHz)—low frequency (50 kHz) plane/plane dielectric barrier discharge in a Penning mixture (Ar-NH3). The discharge is in the α-RF mode, biased by an LF voltage with an amplitude ranging from 0 to 1300 V. When the LF amplitude increases, there is a threshold (around 600 V for a 2 mm gap) from which the light intensity (experiment) and the ionization level (modelling) drastically increase. In this work the physics of the RF-LF DBD below and above this threshold is studied. Depending on the respective RF and LF polarity, the net voltage applied to the gas is alternatively enhanced or reduced which induces an increase or a decrease in the ionization level. In all cases the ion drift to the cathode due to the LF voltage results in an ion loss and a production of secondary electrons. For an LF voltage amplitude lower than 600 V, the ion loss to the cathode is higher than the ion creation related to the secondary electrons. The consequence is a decrease in the plasma density. This density oscillates at a frequency equal to 2LF: it is at maximum each time the LF voltage amplitude is equal to 0 and at minimum when the LF voltage amplitude is at maximum. For an LF voltage amplitude higher than 600 V, when the LF and RF polarity are the same, the secondary electrons emission is high enough to counterbalance the ion loss, to enhance the bulk ionization and the discharge becomes a γ-RF. The gas voltage is controlled by the dielectric charge like a low frequency DBD. Around the gas voltage maximum, on each RF cycle, the discharge is alternatively an α-RF and a γ-RF discharge. When the discharge is in the γ mode, the ions flux at the cathode is increased by a factor of 40.

Abstract No. 492 Adjacent metallic instrumentation does not limit bone ablation when using a bipolar radiofrequency device

An unproven theory that has favored radiotherapy and limited wider application of first-line ablation for patients with painful metastatic bone tumors is the belief that adjacent metallic instrumentation impairs outcomes for local tumor control by serving as a heat sink. This theory has not been tested with modern bipolar radiofrequency (RFA) systems FDA cleared and specifically calibrated for bone ablation. The current study challenges a commercially available bipolar RFA device maximally, with a screw interrupting the center of the return circuit, to determine effects on ablation zone size and temperature, as well as assess whether titanium versus stainless steel instrumentation has different effects, and whether the instrumentation heats sufficiently to create nontarget ablation. Ex vivo ablations were performed using freshly harvested pig vertebrae. Image-guided RFA probe placement and screw placement allowed preparation of 15 vertebrae for ablations, 5 with no screw (control), 5 with adjacent orthogonal titanium screw, and 5 with adjacent orthogonal stainless steel screw. 3 Watt RFA was performed for 5 minutes or until impedance stopped the ablation automatically. Real-time temperature measurements were obtained from the built-in thermocouple in the RFA device and an additional thermocouple on the adjacent screw when applicable. Vertebrae were ananlyzed with 3-Tesla MRI, gross sectioning and histopathology. At 5 minutes, ablation zone temperatures increased mean 21.5 ± 2.1, 20 ± 2.9, 17.2 ± 3.5°C (control, titanium, steel respectively, P = 0.3, one-way ANOVA; P = 0.09, linear regression). At 5 minutes, screw temperatures increased mean 0.3 ± 1°C (titanium, P = 0.6, paired t-test), 4.6 ± 2.9°C (steel, P = 0.023, paired t-test). MRI, gross, histopathology confirmed ablation contained and extended beyond any screws. Adjacent metallic instrumentation did not significantly limit ablation in this experiment using a bipolar RFA device. The stainless steel screw demonstrated statistically significant heating by approximately 5 degrees Celsius at 5 minutes of a low power (3 Watt) RF cycle. These findings support further in vivo study to assess the short-term biologic response and remodeling with juxta-metallic bone RFA.

Physics of efficient gridless tetrodes with intense electron beams

We consider the development of a highly efficient, gridless tetrode as a megawatt-level RF source in the 3 to 10 MHz range for application in mobile ionospheric heaters. Such a heater has potential advantages over the stationary facilities, such as High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, found at high latitudes. The considered device operates in class D mode with an annular electron beam allowing realization of high efficiency. The present study, based on numerical simulations using the Particle in Cell code Michelle [Petillo et al., IEEE Trans. Electron Devices Sci. 52, 742 (2005)], examines the optimization of device geometry. In particular, the dependence of efficiency on spacing between electrodes is studied. In addition, the role of secondary electrons emitted at the collector is examined. Both static and time dependent operations are simulated. In the time dependent case, it is found that during the portion of the RF cycle when the beam current is on, secondaries emitted from the collector are driven back into the collector by the incoming primary beam. When the beam is switched off, secondaries can stream back into the tetrode and have a small negative impact on efficiency. We present a design in which the secondary electrons are eventually absorbed at the collector rather than at the cathode or anode.

Quadrupole mass filter operation with dipole direct current and quadrupole radiofrequency excitation.

For mass analysis, a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) usually operates at the upper tip of the first stability region. We introduce a new mode of QMF operation with dipole direct current (dc) and with auxiliary quadrupole excitation. Before experimental investigation of this mode, we have carried out numerical simulations of this process. Based on the analytical description of the equations of ion motion and mapping of stability islands, ion trajectory calculations are used to calculate peak shapes or mass filter transmission contours. Ions are given Gaussian distributions of initial positions in x and y, and thermal initial velocity distributions. The effects of the dipole dc in the y direction and auxiliary quadrupole excitation in the x and y directions are modeled. We find that, with dipole dc excitation, the working area of the first stability region decreases and a new y stability boundary follows a βy line. This allows control of the resolution with the removal of the low-mass tail of a peak thereby improving the isotopic abundance sensitivity by about two orders of magnitude. The operation of a QMF with high resolution (about 5000) and high transmission (20-25%) and with a relatively short sorting time of ions n = 150 radiofrequency (rf) cycles based on the use of dipole dc and quadrupole excitation is shown. A new mode of QMF operation with dipole direct current (dc) and with an auxiliary quadrupole is discussed. Using dc excitation allows control of the resolution with the removal of the low-mass tail of a peak. The method of operation of a quadrupole mass filter with high resolution (about 5000) and high transmission (20-25%) and a relatively short sorting time (150 rf cycles) based on the use of dipole dc and on quadrupole excitation is shown.

Hybrid Nonlinear Transmission Lines Used for RF Soliton Generation

Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) have been studied for high-power RF generation with good prospects of applications in pulse radars for remote sensing (SARs) and disruption of communications in the battlefield, for instance. In this paper, two 30-section hybrid NLTLs built using nonlinear inductors and capacitors (2.2- and 10-nF barium titanate ceramic capacitors with 10- $\mu \text{H}$ ferrite bead inductors) will be described. For the test, the line is fed by a negative input pump pulse generated by a 1 kV discharge of a 0.75- $\mu \text{F}$ storage capacitor via a fast 50-ns switching system composed by an insulated gate bipolar transistor switch and its gate circuit driver. In the hybrid line tests, using 2.2-nF ceramic capacitors the maximum soliton generation packet obtained on the middle section had a frequency of the order of 33 MHz with voltage modulation depth (VMD) of around 700 V. For every single shot, approximately 10 RF cycles with small damping were noted. With the hybrid line using 10-nF ceramic capacitors the soliton generation obtained on the middle section reached a frequency of the order 10 MHz, and VMD of around 200 V. The main conclusion from this experiment is that hybrid lumped NLTLs may be used to achieve RF in megahertz range with higher VMD compared their counterparts (i.e., capacitive or inductive lines) because of their stronger nonlinearity with the use of both nonlinear elements.

Penetration of Ar and He RF-driven plasma jets into micrometer-sized capillary tubes

The penetration and propagation of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas into volumes having sub-millimeter to micrometer sizes with large aspect ratios is required for enabling an effective disinfection of the inside of catheter tubes, tooth cavities, skin pores and enhance plasma catalysis in porous catalysts. We report on a study using a low voltage RF driven argon and helium plasma jets with the plasma generation outside a capillary tube with a large aspect ratio followed by its penetration and propagation inside the capillary. We present the experimental determination of the limitations on the penetration diameter, and the underpinning mechanisms of the plasma propagation and penetration process. Experimental results include time resolved imaging of plasma propagation and penetration in capillaries with different internal diameter and surface electric field measurements.We found that the time between the plasma jet in first contact with the capillary tube surface and the subsequent penetration into the capillary tube spans several RF cycles due to electric fields at the plasma-tube interface below 4 kV cm−1. These low electric fields require Penning ionization and/or stepwise ionization and hence a buildup of the metastable and electron density is required to achieve a sufficiently large ionization rate near the capillary tube inlet to enable penetration and propagation. Furthermore, it is found that the propagation of the argon jet into the capillary occurs during the positive half cycle of the RF waveform and is very similar to the propagation of the jet in surrounding air.

Generation of quasi continuous-wave electron beams in an L-band normal conducting pulsed RF injector for laboratory astrophysics experiments

We report on an approach to produce quasi continuous-wave (cw) electron beams with an average beam current of milliamperes and a mean beam energy of a few MeV in a pulsed RF injector. Potential applications are in the planned laboratory astrophysics programs at DESY. The beam generation is based on field emission from a specially designed metallic field emitter. A quasi cw beam profile is formed over subsequent RF cycles at the resonance frequency of the gun cavity. This is realized by debunching in a cut disk structure accelerating cavity (booster) downstream of the gun. The peak and average beam currents can be tuned in beam dynamics simulations by adjusting operation conditions of the booster cavity. Optimization of the transverse beam size at specific positions (e.g., entrance of the plasma experiment) is performed by applying magnetic focusing fields provided by solenoids along the beam line. In this paper, the design of a microtip field emitter is introduced and characterized in electromagnetic field simulations in the gun cavity. A series of particle tracking simulations are conducted for multi-parametric optimization of the parameters of the produced quasi cw electron beams. The obtained results will be presented and discussed. In addition, measurements of the parasitic field emission (PFE) current (dark current) in the PITZ gun will be exemplarily shown to distinguish its order of magnitude from the produced beam current by the designed field emitter.