Performance of Au transmission photocathode on a microchannel plate detector

X-ray framing cameras, employing microchannel plates (MCPs) for detection and signal amplification, play a key role in research in high-energy-density physics. These instruments convert radiographic x-rays into electrons produced by plasma during such experiments into electrons that are amplified in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2008-10, Vol.79 (10), p.10E912-10E912-5
Main Authors: Lowenstern, M. E., Harding, E. C., Huntington, C. M., Visco, A. J., Rathore, G., Drake, R. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CAMERAS
DETECTION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRONS
ENERGY DENSITY
GOLD
INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MICROCHANNEL ELECTRON MULTIPLIERS
PHOTOCATHODES
PHOTONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
SIGNALS
TRANSMISSION
X RADIATION
X-RAY SOURCES
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Summary:X-ray framing cameras, employing microchannel plates (MCPs) for detection and signal amplification, play a key role in research in high-energy-density physics. These instruments convert radiographic x-rays into electrons produced by plasma during such experiments into electrons that are amplified in the channels and then detected by a phosphor material. The separation of detection from signal amplification offers potential improvements in sensitivity and noise properties. We have implemented a suspended Au transmission photocathode ( 160   Å thick) on a MCP and are evaluating it using a 1.5 keV Al K α x-ray source. We find an approximately twofold increase in the ratio of detected events to incident photons when the photocathode-to-MCP voltage difference is sufficiently large. Our calculations indicate that this increase is probably caused by a combination of signal produced by the photocathode and an increase in the efficiency of detection of x-rays that reach the MCP surface through modification of the local electric field.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/1.2971970