Performance of a large-area microchannel plate photon-counting intensifier

Iain G. Butler; Timothy J. Norton; Robert J. Airey; Brian L. Morgan; John L. A. Fordham; David A. Bone; R. M. Michel-Murillo

doi:10.1117/12.180007

12 July 1994 Performance of a large-area microchannel plate photon counting intensifier

Iain G. Butler, Timothy J. Norton, Robert J. Airey, Brian L. Morgan, John L. A. Fordham, David A. Bone, R. M. Michel-Murillo

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2278, X-Ray and UV Detectors; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.180007
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A 75 mm diameter microchannel plate (MCP) intensifier has been developed for astronomical applications. The intensifier incorporates a semi-transparent photocathode, three MCPs in a Z- stack configuration, and a P20 phosphor screen in a dual proximity focused arrangement. The input MCP is a thin 40:1 channel plate which is conditioned to run at low gain and hence act as an ion barrier for the succeeding 80:1 chevron pair. The intensifier has been incorporated into a CCD readout system and has undergone extensive laboratory testing. The preconditioning of these 75 mm diameter channel plates required a large area, highly uniform electron scrub beam, this has led to the development of a novel electron gun. The design of the 75 mm intensifier and the novel electron gun are described. Results from the laboratory evaluation of the intensifier are presented. Flat field illumination showed the existence of self- exciting channels in a hexagonal pattern. Finally, a future UV or x-ray detector based on this design and incorporating large area MCPs is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Iain G. Butler, Timothy J. Norton, Robert J. Airey, Brian L. Morgan, John L. A. Fordham, David A. Bone, and R. M. Michel-Murillo "Performance of a large-area microchannel plate photon counting intensifier", Proc. SPIE 2278, X-Ray and UV Detectors, (12 July 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.180007

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available