Image Intensifier with Fiber Optics Plate and Image Orthicon Tube

Abstract

When observing extremely fracturable specimens, such as organic compounds, clays and biological specimens by means of electron microscopy, it is very difficult to photograph the image of an object due to the very small current density of the irradiating electron beam. It is, therefore, desirable to use a high efficency image intensifier. The intensifiers presently used utilize Vidicon or Plumbicon camera tubes which exhibit comparatively low efficency. As a result, it is necessary to insert a photo-electron multiplier between the photo receiving surface and the surface of the camera tube. By so doing, the signal on the receiving surface is transformed into an amplified output signal, which involves considerably large shot noise arising from the collision of the photo-electron onto the electrodes or the fluorescent film in front of the second stage fiber optics plates.