Oswald H. W. Siegmund, Space Sciences Laboratory – U.C. Berkeley, Camden Ertley, Space Sciences Laboratory – U.C. Berkeley, John V. Vallerga, Space Sciences Laboratory – U.C. Berkeley, Till Cremer, Incom Inc., Chris A. Craven, Incom Inc., Alexey Lyashenko, Incom Inc., Michael J. Minot
Keywords: High time resolution, photon counting, imaging, sensors, microchannel plate, photon counting, timing
Abstract:
High time resolution astronomical and remote sensing applications have been addressed with microchannel plate based imaging, photon time tagging detector sealed tube schemes. These are being realized with the advent of cross strip readout techniques with high performance encoding electronics and atomic layer deposited (ALD) microchannel plate technologies. Sealed tube devices up to 20 cm square have now been successfully implemented with sub nanosecond timing and imaging. The objective is to provide sensors with large areas (25 cm2 to 400 cm2) with spatial resolutions of <20 μm FWHM and timing resolutions of <100 ps for dynamic imaging. New high efficiency photocathodes for the visible regime are discussed, which also allow response down below 150nm for UV sensing. Borosilicate MCPs are providing high performance, and when processed with ALD techniques are providing order of magnitude lifetime improvements and enhanced photocathode stability. New developments include UV/visible photocathodes, ALD MCPs, and high resolution cross strip anodes for 100 mm detectors. Tests with 50 mm format cross strip readouts suitable for Planacon devices show spatial resolutions better than 20 μm FWHM, with good image linearity while using low gain (~106). Current cross strip encoding electronics can accommodate event rates of >5 MHz and event timing accuracy of ~100 ps. High-performance ASIC versions of these electronics are in development with better event rate, power and mass suitable for spaceflight instruments.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2017
Track: Poster