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Microchannel Plate Imaging Photon Counters for Ultraviolet through NIR Detection with High Time Resolution.
Oswald H W Siegmund1, John V Vallerga, Anton S Tremsin
1Univ. of California, Berkeley, Space Sciences Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720-7450.
Summary
New microchannel plate detectors offer high spatial resolution (~17 μm) and fast timing (~1.5 ns) for UV/particle and optical applications. These advanced detectors achieve high event rates and quantum efficiency, enhancing scientific imaging capabilities.
Area of Science:
- * Detector Physics
- * High-Energy Physics Instrumentation
- * Advanced Imaging Technologies
Background:
- * Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors are crucial for detecting low-intensity signals in various scientific fields.
- * Existing MCP detector readout technologies have limitations in spatial resolution, event rate, and timing accuracy.
- * Development of novel readout electronics and detector configurations is essential for advancing scientific instrumentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To construct and evaluate microchannel plate detectors with cross strip (XS) and cross delay line (XDL) readouts.
- * To achieve high spatial resolution, fast timing, and high event rate capabilities for UV/particle and optical detection.
- * To optimize detector performance using small pore MCPs and advanced field-programmable gate array (FPGA) electronics.
Main Methods:
- * Construction of 18 mm, 25 mm, and 40 mm active area MCP detectors in open face and sealed tube formats.
- * Utilization of small pore (6 μm) MCPs in pairs to achieve high gain (>1 × 10^6).
- * Development and testing of FPGA-based electronics for single event encoding, high-speed data processing, and precise timing.
Main Results:
- * Achieved spatial resolution of ~17 μm FHWM with 18 mm and 40 mm XS readouts.
- * Demonstrated high output event rates (>4 MHz for XS, >2 MHz for XDL) with excellent spatial resolution.
- * Obtained timing accuracy of ~1.5 ns for sealed tube XS optical sensors.
- * Measured peak quantum efficiency of 13–19% at 500 nm with SuperGenII photocathodes (400–900 nm response).
- * Attained local area counting rates up to 40 kHz (100 μm spot) with XS sealed tubes, showing image linearity and stability <50 μm.
Conclusions:
- * The developed XS and XDL MCP detectors meet demanding requirements for high-resolution, high-speed imaging in scientific applications.
- * The combination of small pore MCPs and advanced FPGA electronics significantly enhances detector performance.
- * These detectors represent a significant advancement in instrumentation for fields requiring sensitive and precise event detection.
