Ultrafast turnoff laser triggered gating system for microchannel-plate intensified x-ray spectrometers

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1138183· OSTI ID:5639803

Christie, D J; Nilson, D G; Wiedwald, J D; Wilcox, R B

A laser triggered photoconductive switch based microchannel-plate (MCP) gating system has been developed. The gating pulse provided to the MCP has a fall time on the order of 200 ps. Use of this system has resulted in increased signal-to-noise ratio on three MCP intensified x-ray spectrometers during recent x-ray experiments at the Novette laser facility. The x-ray signals of interest have a duration of approximately 300 ps while background in the same spectral region continues for several nanoseconds. As a result, signal-to-noise ratio is maximized by turning the MCP off just after the signals of interest are recorded. The MCP's are turned on by charging to approximately 1 kV with a slow rise-time (500 ns) pulse and rapidly gated off by a photoconductive switch connected to the MCP through transmission lines. Staggering the turnoff times of three microstrip lines across the MCP by 250 ps provides some time resolution. Details of the system, including pulse charging system, trigger beam delivery optics, and system diagnostics will be discussed.

• Research Organization: University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), P. O. Box 5508, Livermore, California 94550
• OSTI ID: 5639803
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Journal Name: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) Vol. 56:5; ISSN RSINA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
DESIGN
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MULTIPLIERS
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
LASER RADIATION
LASER TARGETS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROCHANNEL ELECTRON MULTIPLIERS
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PULSE CIRCUITS
PULSE RISE TIME
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RADIATIONS
RESOLUTION
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
SWITCHES
TARGETS
TIME RESOLUTION
TIMING CIRCUITS
TIMING PROPERTIES
TRIGGER CIRCUITS
X-RAY LASERS
X-RAY SPECTRA
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY