A visible light photon-counting imaging detector based on induction readout

Abstract

Photon-counting imaging detectors based on microchannel plate (MCP) and position-sensitive anode are characterized by extremely high sensitivity, as well as the ability to detect single photons. In this study, a visible light photon-counting imaging detector based on induction readout was developed for the detection of weak light intensities, such as photon counting radar and biofluorescence lifetime imaging. The design is based on a 25 mm diameter multi-alkali S20 photocathode followed by a MCP stack, and read out by a high-resistance Ge layer anode. The position-sensitive anode was located at the atmosphere side of the Ge substrate. Such a detector was advantageous in terms of reconfigurability and detachability. The imaging performance of the detector was tested by using the wedge and strip anode to decode the photon event position information. The experimental results showed a detector gain reaching about 3×10⁶ , pulse height resolution (PHR) of about 105%, and spatial resolution better than 100μm.