Some Aspects of the Design and Performance of a Small high-contrast Channel Image Intensifier

TLDR: In this article, an inverting electrostatic lens is used to focus the electron image from the primary photocathode to the input of the channel plate, and proximity focusing between the output and the fluorescent screen.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some design aspects of a small high-contrast channel image intensifier. This channel image intensifier uses an inverting electrostatic lens to focus the electron image from the primary photocathode to the input of the channel plate, and proximity focusing between the channel plate output and the fluorescent screen. The major electron optical-design problem occurs in the inverting section in meeting the principal design requirements of: (1) a flat image plane to match the planar channel-plate input; (2) a resolution performance such that the major effect on the overall modulation transfer is that of the proximity-focused channel plate to screen section, and (3) a diode construction to obviate the need for preset stabilized focusing voltages. The operating voltages required for the tube are 5 kV between the photocathode and input to the channel plate, and a further 5 kV between the channel-plate output and the fluorescent screen. Results demonstrate that a small, high-contrast image intensifier can be manufactured using the channel multiplication principle, which has a performance equal to or better than other types of intensifiers at all but extremely low light levels.