Abstract

A high temporal bandwidth x-ray detector has been developed for time resolved one dimensional x-ray imaging experiments. The detector serves as a high gain, high quantum efficiency preamplifier for a streak camera, and consists of a reflective x-ray photocathode, an active microchannel plate, optional electrostatic optics, and a sub-nanosecond phosphor. The optional electrostatic optics allows the detector to be used for either two dimensional imaging with a 100 picosecond framing (without focusing optics), or as a high gain one dimensional imaging detector, with either a 100 picosecond gated Reticon camera, or a streak camera. Other versions of the one dimensional detector have been developed, in which the microchannel plate which employs a reflective photocathode on the front surface of the microchannel plate, is replaced with a transmission photocathode consisting of a photocathode deposited on a thin polypropylene foil. The detector exhibits a time resolution of 400 picoseconds FWHM, a spatial resolution of 350 pm with an electron compression of ten to one (100μm resolution without compression). Quantum efficiency of 40% have been achieved, and effective quantum efficiency greater than 100% have been achieved with the one dimensional electrostatic optics. Data will be presented on the efficiency, time response and spatial resolution of the one dimensional detectors.

© 1988 Optical Society of America