Feasibility study concerning screen opacity as well as the curve of the microchannels in a 40mm channel multiplier relative to applications in a photomultiplier tube

Relative to the improvement of the performance characteristics of the photon detector sub-assembly and the faint object camera to be used on the NASA space telescope, a photomultiplier tube was studied. Results include the improvement of the imaging screen by increasing the opacity of the aluminum membrane which covers the luminophor of the screen. A channel multiplier with curved microchannels was also developed in order to optimize the gain in electron multiplication afforded by increased screen opacity. The deposition processes used in fabricating the screen are discussed for the various schemes investigated. Tests and results for both the screen and channel multiplier are detailed.