A distributed R-C radial transmission line theory applied to the gain characteristics of gated microchannel-plate image intensifiers

Microchannel plate (MCP) image intensifiers may be gated by the application of appropriate potentials between the photocathode and the microchannel plate structure. The pulse propagation characteristics were modeled as a distributed R-C network having cylindrical symmetry. The propagation characteristics of this network were calculated analytically in terms of an infinite series of J sub 0 and J sub 1 Bessel functions for step function, impulse function and for arbitrary driving functions by convolution. The gain versus voltage characteristics of an MCP are included. The propagation theory is applicable to other structures having similar geometry, such as large grid controlled electron guns.