  The Cornell University Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) photoinjector has recently
demonstrated operation at 20 mA for approximately 8 hours, utilizing a
multialkali photocathode deposited on a Si substrate. We describe the recipe
for photocathode deposition, and will detail the parameters of the run.
Post-run analysis of the photocathode indicates the presence of significant
damage to the substrate, perhaps due to ion back-bombardment from the residual
beamline gas. While the exact cause of the substrate damage remains unknown, we
describe multiple surface characterization techniques (X-ray fluorescence
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy)
used to study the interesting morphological and crystallographic features of
the photocathode surface after its use for high current beam production.
Finally, we present a simple model of crystal damage due to ion
back-bombardment, which agrees qualitatively with the distribution of damage on
the substrate surface.
