Ultrashort electron pulses from needle emitters - basic principles and first applications

Novel methods in time-resolved electron microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy promise unprecedented insight into the dynamics of structural, electronic and magnetic processes on the nanoscale. A key to the realization of such technologies is the generation of highly coherent ultrashort electron pulses.
In this talk, I will introduce laser-induced electron emission from nanostructures and will discuss our recent progress in the application of these coherent electron sources. In particular, the development of ultrafast low-energy electron diffraction from atomically thin films and surfaces will described, and first results from an ultrafast transmission electron microscope will be presented.