Single electron counting using a dual MCP assembly

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2016-09, Vol.830, p.438-443
• Main Authors: Yang, Yuzhen, Liu, Shulin, Zhao, Tianchi, Yan, Baojun, Wang, Peiliang, Yu, Yang, Lei, Xiangcui, Yang, Luping, Wen, Kaile, Qi, Ming, Heng, Yuekun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biasing voltage; Dual MCP assembly; Single electron counting
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2016.06.035

The gain, pulse height resolution and peak-to-valley ratio of single electrons detected by using a Chevron configured Microchannel Plate (MCP) assembly are studied. The two MCPs are separated by a 280µm gap and are biased by four electrodes. The purpose of the study is to determine the optimum bias voltage arrangements for single electron counting. By comparing the results of various bias voltage combinations, we conclude that good performance for the electron counting can be achieved by operating the MCP assembly in saturation mode. In addition, by applying a small reverse bias voltage across the gap while adjusting the bias voltages of the MCPs, optimum performance of electron counting can be obtained. •Dual MCPs assembly with four electrodes using different voltage combinations has been investigated for single electron counting.•Both the MCP voltages and the gap voltage can affect the gain, pulse height resolution and P/V ratio.•A high gain of the first stage MCP, a saturation mode of the second stage MCP and an appropriately reverse gap voltage can improve the resolution greatly.•The optimum voltage arrangements is significant for the design of MCP detectors in single electron counting applications.