Microchannel plate intensifier gain uniformity improvement in sealed tubes by selective scrubbing
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (United States). Amador Valley Operations
We have improved the gain uniformity of sealed microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPIs) by selectively scrubbing the high gain sections with a controlled bright light source. The major contributor to poor uniformity on most of the tubes we have tested is the cathode, with the MCP and screen making only minor contributions. Using the premise that ions returning to the cathode from the MCP damage the cathode and reduce its sensitivity, we raster scanned an HeNe laser beam light source across the cathode of an MCPI tube. Cathode current was monitored and when it exceeded a present threshold, the sweep rate was decreased 1000 times, giving 1000 times the exposure to cathode areas with sensitivity greater than the threshold. The threshold was set at the cathode current corresponding to the lowest sensitivity in the active cathode area so that sensitivity of the entire cathode would be reduced to this level. This process reduced tube gain by between 10% and 30% in the high gain areas while gain reduction in low gain areas was negligible. Effects on cathode spectral sensitivity and phosphor efficiency, the results of including the MCP in the feedback loop, the possibility of reclaiming tubes damaged by prolonged exposure to resolution targets, and circuit details are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7077662
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-109349; CONF-9209188-4; ON: DE92041082
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 20. international congress on high speed photography and photonics, Victoria (Canada), 25-26 Sep 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Image intensifier gain uniformity improvements in sealed tubes by selective scrubbing
Image intensifier gain uniformity improvements in sealed tubes by selective scrubbing
Related Subjects
IMAGE INTENSIFIERS
PHOTOCATHODES
SURFACE CLEANING
GAIN
LASER RADIATION
QUALITY CONTROL
SCRUBBING
AMPLIFICATION
CATHODES
CLEANING
CONTROL
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
RADIATIONS
SURFACE FINISHING
440100* - Radiation Instrumentation
440200 - Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems