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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Background events in microchannel plates

Measurements have been made to assess the characteristics and origins of background events in microchannel plates (MCPs). An overall background rate of about 0.4 events/sq cm persec has been achieved consistently for MCPs that have been baked and scrubbed. The temperature and gain of the MCPs are found to have no significant effect on the background rate. Detection of 1.46-MeV gamma rays from the MCP glass confirms the presence of K-40, with a concentration of 0.0007 percent, in MCP glass. It is shown that beta decay from K-40 is sufficient to cause the background rate and spectrum observed. Anticoincidence measurements indicate the the background rate caused by cosmic ray interactions is small (less than 0.016 events/sq cm per sec).

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Readout techniques for photon-counting microchannel image systems

A comparative evaluation is made of such readout methods for the microchannel plates that are commonly used in EUV, FUV, and X-ray low light level image systems as the (1) phosphor-video, (2) phosphor and binary-mask encoder, (3) direct discrete-position encoder, (4) direct analog amplitude position-encoder systems, and (5) delay-line encoders. Relative advantages and limitations are discussed in the context of low light level space-based astronomy applications. The delay-line technique offers great promise for high-resolution applications where oversampling is mandatory, as in spectroscopy.

Lampton, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1988

Extreme ultraviolet quantum efficiency of opaque alkali halide photocathodes on microchannel plates

Comprehensive measurements are presented for the quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of the microchannel plate materials CsI, KBr, KCl, and MgF2, over the 44-1800 A wavelength range. QDEs in excess of 40 percent are achieved by several materials in specific wavelength regions of the EUV. Structure is noted in the wavelength dependence of the QDE that is directly related to the valence-band/conduction-band gap energy and the onset of atomic-like resonant transitions. A simple photocathode model allows interpretation of these features, together with the QDE efficiency variation, as a function of illumination angle.

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Charge coupled devices vs. microchannel plates in the extreme and far ultraviolet - A comparison based on the latest laboratory measurements

While microchannel plates (MCPs) have been established as imaging photon counters in the EUV and FUV for some years, CCDs are associated with low light level sensing at visible and near-IR wavelengths. Attention is presently given to recent proposals for CCDs' use as EUV and FUV detectors with quantum efficiencies sometimes exceeding those of MCPs; quantum resolution, format size, dynamic range, and long-term stability are also used as bases of comparison, for the cases of both space-based astronomical and spectroscopic applications.

Vallerga, J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Delay-Line Anode For Microchannel-Plate Spectrometer

Photon-counting read-out system for microchannel-plate spectrometer includes delay line and timing circuit to measure wavelength coordinate and wedge/wedge charge-division system to measure orthogonal spatial coordinate. System proves advantageous for portable two-dimensional spectrometers having large image planes and for which design requirements include simplicity, reliability, low power consumption, and low mass.

Lampton, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Soft X-ray and extreme utraviolet quantum detection efficiency of potassium chloride photocathode layers on microchannel plates

The quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of KCl photocathodes in the 44-1460 A range was investigated. An opaque layer of KCl, about 15,000-A-thick, was evaporated and applied the surface of a microchannel plate (MCP), and the contribution of the photocathode material in the channels (and on the interchannel web) to the QDE was measured using a Z stack MCP detector. It is shown that KCl is a relatively stable photocathode material, with the QDE equal to 30-40 percent in the EUV. At wavelengths above 200 A, the QDE is slightly better than the QDE of CsI, as reported by Siegmund et al. (1986). While the shape of the QDE curve as a function of wavelength is similar to those reported for CsI and KBr, KCl was found to lack the high QDE peak found in the curves of CsI and KBr at about 100 A. A simple QDE model is described, the predictions of which were found to agree with the measurements on the KCl photocathode.

Siegmund, Oswald H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Further investigation of CsI-coated microchannel plate quantum efficiencies

Previously, pulse-counting detection efficiencies measured for CsI-coated microchannel plate (MCP) detectors (two-stage chevron configuration with a single collecting anode) have been reported to be 15-20 percent near Lyman-alpha (1216 A), compared to typical 65 percent quantum yields of opaque CsI photocathodes. To investigate the possibility that an improvement in quantum yield could result from use of MCPs with a bias angle of about 25 deg instead of 8 deg as used previously, the previous measurements were reported with new MCPs having the larger bias angle. No significant improvement in detection efficiency was achieved; the new detector tests still yielded maximum efficiencies of the order of 20 percent near 1216 A.

Carruthers, George R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Performance characteristics of a new helical-channel microchannel plate

An advanced version of the 'helical-channel' microchannel plate (MCP) is presented. This MCP is composed of four channels per fiber with each channel having a diameter of 50 microns. The dynamic range, pulse-height distribution, and gain characteristics of this MCP are discussed. It is found that increasing the twist density of the channels makes it possible to increase the detection efficiency and further improve the suppression of ion-feedback providing a tighter saturated pulse-height distribution and improved high-voltage characteristics.

Slater, David C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Decoding techniques for fine-fine geometry multi-anode microchannel arrays

The Multi-Anode Microchannel Array (MAMA) is a photon-counting detector which decodes the position of an event through coincidence discrimination. The decoding algorithm which associates a given event with the appropriate pixel is determined by the geometry of the array. The decoding process can be divided into two tasks: anode encoding and pixel decoding. Techniques for performing both tasks are described and contrasted in light of application requirements. Decode times of 75 nanoseconds have been achieved, and considerably faster decoders are possible given new architectures and technologies.

Kasle, David B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Mosaic wedge-and-strip arrays for large format microchannel plate detectors

The authors present a novel method for joining wedge-and-strip patterns on single anodes in a mosaic array. With only a modest increase in complexity over three-conductor anodes currently in use, the ultimate detector position resolution can be significantly improved, and large-format microchannel plate detectors with pore-size-limited resolution are made possible. The problem of the transition from one anode to the next has been solved with a novel linear encoding scheme, which exhibits essentially distortionless behavior at boundaries parallel to the conducting elements and only slight distortion at the orthogonal boundaries. The ultimate resolution for two anode designs, one designed for large-format imaging and the other for high-resolution spectroscopy, is also predicted.

Martin, Christopher↗
NASA NTRS1989

Imaging characteristics of the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer microchannel plate detectors

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite will conduct an all-sky survey over the wavelength range from 70 A to 760 A using four grazing-incidence telescopes and seven microchannel-plate (MCP) detectors. The imaging photon-counting MCP detectors have active areas of 19.6 cm2. Photon arrival position is determined using a wedge-and-strip anode and associated pulse-encoding electronics. The imaging characteristics of the EUVE flight detectors are presented including image distortion, flat-field response, and spatial differential nonlinearity. Also included is a detailed discussion of image distortions due to the detector mechanical assembly, the wedge-and-strip anode, and the electronics. Model predictions of these distortions are compared to preflight calibration images which show distortions less than 1.3 percent rms of the detector diameter of 50 mm before correction. The plans for correcting these residual detector image distortions to less than 0.1 percent rms are also presented.

Vallerga, J. V.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Investigations of bonded and curved microchannel plate stacks

The technique of fusing, or bonding, individual microchannel plate (MCP) stacks together offers the possibility of improving the uniformity of MCP stack operating characteristics and provides a convenient monolithic format. Here, the effectiveness of bonded MCP stacks and stacks of MCPs with curved surfaces is investigated to determine if MCP requirements for future astrophysical detectors can be achieved. The results show that both configurations give superior MCP performance characteristics. However, some problems remain with regard to the fabrication of bonded MCP stacks resulting in poor flat field characteristics and increased background.

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low-Noise, Long-Life, High-Gain Microchannel-Plate Glass

Dark noise reduced substantially without degrading other properties. Glass suitable for use as active material for microchannel plates (MCP's) free of constituents including significant amounts of radioactive isotopes.

Feller, W. Bruce↗
NASA NTRS1990

Planar double delay-line readout technique for microchannel plate detectors

A two-dimensional position-sensitive electrical readout system for microchannel plate detectors in spectroscopic applications has been devised. Two adjacent parallel coplanar delay lines are used. The difference in time of arrival of the electron event signal between the ends of the delay lines gives one coordinate of the centroid of each event pulse. The ratio of the event amplitudes on the two delay lines gives the orthogonal coordinate by means of charge partitioning. The performance characteristics of operational double delay lines for systems of this type are presented.

Lampton, M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A high resolution delay line readout for microchannel plates

Investigations are reported of delay line configurations used to encode photon event locations in microchannel plate (MCP) detectors. Several delay line schemes of planar and multilayer structure are discussed. The importance of the delay line substrate material is examined, and it is shown that the raw signals from delay lines are narrow (about 3-4 ns FWHM). The factors determining the delay line resolution are evaluated, and it is demonstrated that these are in agreement with measurements. Resolutions of about 18-micron FWHM have been achieved. Measurements of the linearity of the delay line readout show that event centroid locations deviate from perfect linearity by less than 50 microns, even with the very simple anode fabrication methods employed. The image stability has also been evaluated and it is shown that image shifts are less than one resolution element over a period of two months.

Siegmund, O. S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low noise and conductively cooled microchannel plates

Microchannel plate (MCP) dynamic range has recently been enhanced for both very low and very high input flux conditions. Improvements in MCP manufacturing technology reported earlier have led to MCPs with substantially reduced radioisotope levels, giving dramatically lower internal background-counting rates. An update is given on the Galileo low noise MCP. Also, new results in increasing the MCP linear counting range for high input flux densities are presented. By bonding the active face of a very low resistance MCP (less than 1 megaohm) to a substrate providing a conductive path for heat transport, the bias current limit (hence, MCP output count rate limit) can be increased up to two orders of magnitude. Normal pulse-counting MCP operation was observed at bias currents of several mA when a curved-channel MCP (80:1) was bonded to a ceramic multianode substrate; the MCP temperature rise above ambient was less than 40 C.

Feller, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Highly curved microchannel plates

Several spherically curved microchannel plate (MCP) stack configurations were studied as part of an ongoing astrophysical detector development program, and as part of the development of the ALEXIS satellite payload. MCP pairs with surface radii of curvature as small as 7 cm, and diameters up to 46 mm have been evaluated. The experiments show that the gain (greater than 1.5 x 10 exp 7) and background characteristics (about 0.5 events/sq cm per sec) of highly curved MCP stacks are in general equivalent to the performance achieved with flat MCP stacks of similar configuration. However, gain variations across the curved MCP's due to variations in the channel length to diameter ratio are observed. The overall pulse height distribution of a highly curved surface MCP stack (greater than 50 percent FWHM) is thus broader than its flat counterpart (less than 30 percent). Preconditioning of curved MCP stacks gives comparable results to flat MCP stacks, but it also decreases the overall gain variations. Flat fields of curved MCP stacks have the same general characteristics as flat MCP stacks.

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fractal multifiber microchannel plates

The construction and performance of microchannel plates (MCPs) made using fractal tiling mehtods are reviewed. MCPs with 40 mm active areas having near-perfect channel ordering were produced. These plates demonstrated electrical performance characteristics equivalent to conventionally constructed MCPs. These apparently are the first MCPs which have a sufficiently high degree of order to permit single channel addressability. Potential applications for these devices and the prospects for further development are discussed.

Cook, Lee M.↗