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research article

Optimizing photon capture: advancements in amorphous silicon-based microchannel plates

Frey, Samira  
•
Antognini, Luca  
•
Benserhir, Jad  
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December 1, 2025
Communications Engineering

Microchannel plates are electron multipliers widely used in applications such as particle detection, imaging, or mass spectrometry and are often paired with a photocathode to enable photon detection. Conventional microchannel plates, made of glass fibers, face limitations in manufacturing flexibility and integration with electronic readouts. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon-based microchannel plates offer a compelling alternative and provide unique advantages in these areas. Here, we report on the characterization of the time resolution of amorphous silicon-based microchannel plates. Using high photoelectron flux and an amplifier, we measured a time resolution of (4.6 ± 0.1) ps, while at lower fluxes, the arrival time uncertainty increased to (12.6 ± 0.2) ps. By minimizing the distance between the detector and a low-noise amplifier, we achieved a time resolution of (6.1 ± 0.2) ps even at low fluxes, demonstrating the exceptional timing capabilities of these detectors. Furthermore, we developed a new detector generation with funnel-shaped channel openings, increasing the active area to 95% and with simulated electron detection efficiency over 92%. Preliminary testing shows promising results, though challenges remain in single-particle detection. These findings highlight the potential of amorphous silicon-based microchannel plates for applications requiring high temporal resolution and detection efficiency.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1038/s44172-025-00394-6
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105003266136

Author(s)
Frey, Samira  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Antognini, Luca  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Benserhir, Jad  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Ripiccini, Emanuele  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

de Koning, Coenraad

University of Bern

Riedo, Andreas

University of Bern

Belhaj, Mohamed

ONERA Office National d'Etudes et Recherches Aerospatiales

Bruschini, Claudio  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Charbon, Edoardo  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Ballif, Christophe  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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Date Issued

2025-12-01

Published in
Communications Engineering
Volume

4

Issue

1

Article Number

64

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
AQUA  
OHS-PR  
PV-LAB  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Center of MicroNanoTechnology

Swiss National Science Foundation

177165

Available on Infoscience
May 2, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/249623
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