High dynamic range photon counting imagers using nano-engineered microchannel plates

Abstract

This work focuses on the development of novel nano-engineered microchannel plates (MCPs) to enhance a new generation of NUV-visible light photon counting detectors that have a wide range of applications in LIDAR, 3D topographic imaging, high-speed photography, bio-medial fluorescence microscopy and astronomical imaging. The MCPs are borosilicate glass micro-capillary arrays functionalized using atomic layer deposition (ALD). MCP's manufactured in this way have many advantageous properties, including the ability to withstand high processing temperatures, high secondary electron yield, and low outgassing. This scheme has the ability to support higher global photon count rates while greatly reducing the deterioration of photocathode efficiency and detector gain. Opaque photocathodes have been deposited onto these nano-engineered borosilicate MCPs and several sealed tube devices have been constructed. Here we report on the progress of this effort, including performance and lifetime characteristics from the sealed tubes and MCPs, and results from the deposition of opaque photocathodes onto nano-engineered MCPs.