Image shutters: Gated proximity-focused Microchannel Plate (MCP) wafer tubes versus gated Silicon Intensified Target (SIT) vidicons
Abstract
Response data, including gating speed, gain, dynamic range, shuttering efficiency, and resolution for 18- and 25-mm-diam proximity-focused microchannel-plate (MCP) intensifiers are compared with similar data for a prototype electrostatically-focused 25-mm-diam gated silicon-intensified-target (SIT) vidicon. Conductive substrate material and thickness used to reduce photocathode resistivity, spacing between gating electrodes to minimize inter-electrode capacitance, the use of conductive grids on the photocathode substrate to permit rapid propagation of the electrical gate pulse to all areas of the photocathode, and different package geometries to provide a more effective interface with external biasing and gating circuitry were varied in both tube types to determine optimal performance from each design. For comparable spatial resolution, most 18-mm-diam MCPs require gate times 2.5 ns while the fastest SIT has demonstrated sub-nanosecond optical gates as short as approximately 400 + or - 50 ps for full shuttering of the 25-mm-diam input window.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982STIN...8328348Y
- Keywords:
-
- Image Intensifiers;
- Microchannel Plates;
- Optical Filters;
- Photomultiplier Tubes;
- Vidicons;
- Camera Shutters;
- Capacitance;
- Gates (Circuits);
- Silicon;
- Spatial Resolution;
- Substrates;
- Thickness;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering