Optimizing Photon Capture: Advancements in AMCP Technology for Enhanced Timing and Photon Detection Efficiency
Hydrogenated amorphous silicon based microchannel plates (AMCPs) provide unique advantages over conventional glass-based microchannel plates, offering enhanced flexibility in manufacturing and vertical integration with an electronic readout. A high single-channel gain of 1500 could be measured in the latest generation, making them an attractive choice for a wide range of applications, including medical imaging, mass spectrometry, and particle physics experiments. A time resolution of 4.6±0.1ps (FWHM) was measured when an AMCP was connected to an amplifier and exposed to a high photoelectron flux. By decreasing the flux of photoelectrons to roughly a few hundred to thousands, this value increased to 12.6±0.2ps (FWHM). By shortening the distance between the detector and a low noise amplifier, noise on the signal could be significantly reduced, and time resolutions below 10ps were measured even for low fluxes and signal amplitudes. While single-particle detection remains a challenge, our results highlight the exceptional potential of AMCPs in achieving outstanding timing resolution. Additionally, AMCPs with a funnel-shaped channel opening are presented as well, allowing for an active area of the detector of 95% and an electron detection efficiency above 92%, respectively. This novel design has been successfully fabricated and subjected to preliminary testing, showing promising results.
Thinfilm (Sweden)
University of Bern
EPFL
EPFL
University of Bern
University of Bern
Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales
EPFL
EPFL
EPFL
2024-08-19
Research Square Platform LLC
EPFL