Development of high-throughput flexible multichannel electron detectors at Daresbury Laboratory

Continuing demands from Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) end-users for higher throughput and improved reliability in photoelectron spectroscopy experiments have driven an intensive development programme for new multichannel electron detectors. The development philosophy focuses on high throughput to match present and future source intensity, flexible structures to allow increased mobility of designs and modular design for easy maintenance and repair. Developments include parallel readout electronics and innovative detector heads for the hemispherical deflection analysers currently in use on the SRS. Novel anode arrays have been implemented in the detector heads and extensive microchannel plate (MCP) characterization has been undertaken to source the MCPs most suited to this application. The present multichannel detection systems provide a significant enhancement to single-channel detection systems. They have also surpassed previous multichannel detection systems due to their high throughput, flexible structure and modular design. Information on these developments and experimental results obtained at Daresbury Laboratory are presented.