Microchannel plate (MCP) photon counting detectors are currently being used with great success on many of the recent NASA/ESA ultraviolet (UV) astrophysics missions that make observations in the 1OO A - 1600 A range. These include HUT, the Wide Field Camera on ROSAT, EUVE, ALEXIS, ORFEUS, and SOHO. These devices have also been chosen to fly on future UV astrophysics missions such as FUSE, FUVITA, IMAGE, and both the HST STIS and Advanced Camera instruments. During the period of this award we have fabricated a dual-chamber vacuum test facility to carry out laboratory testing of detector resolution, image stability and linearity, and flat field performance to enable us to characterize the performance of MCPs and their associated read-out architectures. We have also fabricated and tested a laboratory 'test-bed' delay line detector, which can accommodate MCP's with a wide range of formats and run at high data rates, to continue our studies of MCP image fixed pattern noise, and particularly for new small pore MCP's which have recently come onto the market. These tests were mainly focussed on the assessment of cross delay-line (XDL) and double delay line (DDL) anode read-out schemes, with particular attention being focussed on flat-field and spatial resolution performance

Siegmund, Oswald

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA-CR-203093
High Spatial Resolution Investigations of Microchannel Plate Imaging Properties
for UV Detectors
Final report: FY 1996
NASA Grant: NAG5 2304
Principal Invesigator: Dr. Oswald Siegmund
Experimental Astrophysics Group
Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720
Introduction
Microchannel plate (MCP) photon counting detectors are currently being used with great success on
man_, of the recent NASA/ESA ultraviolet (UV) astrophysics missions that make observations in the
100A - 1600A range. These include HUT, the Wide Field Camera on ROSAT, EUVE, ALEXIS,
ORFEUS, and SOHO. These devices have also been chosen to fly on future UV astrophysics
missions such as FUSE, FUVITA, IMAGE, and both the HST STIS and Advanced Camera
instruments. During the period of this award we have fabricated a dual-chamber vacuum test facility
(described below) to carry out laboratory testing of detector resolution, image stability and linearity,
and fiat field performance to enable us to characterize the performance of MCPs and their associated
read-out architectures. We have also fabricated and tested a laboratory "test-bed" delay line detector,
which can accommodate MCP's with a wide range of formats and run at high data rates, to continue
our studies of MCP image fixed pattern noise, and particularly for new small pore MCP's which have
recently come onto the market. These tests were mainly focussed on the assessment of cross delay-
line (XDL) and double delay line (DDL) anode read-out schemes, with particular attention being
focussed on flat-field and spatial resolution performance.
Microchannel plate developments
Standard MCP's provide good detector performance, with pore sizes of 10 to 12_m, gains >107, pulse
height distributions (PHD's) of <40% FWHM, gain variations <20%, background rates <0.3 events
sec -1 cm -2, fixed pattern noise of <15%, and curved surfaces down to <7cm radius. Future missions
such as FUSE and IRIS/LITE demand high resolution large area formats (>5 x 5cm and 10 x lcm),
low levels of fixed pattern noise and high image stability, along with lower background rates and high
local event rate dynamic range. In this work we have sought to promote the development of, and
evaluate the performance of smaller pore (5[.tm to 7_tm) MCP's, large format MCP's, very low
background rate MCP's (<0.03 events cm -2 sec-1), high counting rate (>100 events pore -1 sec -1)
with good stability, and techniques to reduce the MCP fixed pattern noise.
(a) High resolution MCP's
High spatial resolution (<=151.tm) is essential for future high resolution imaging (IRIS/LITE) and
spectroscopy applications (FUSE). Currently, the size of the MCP pores is a significant issue. With
helical DDL anodes and 10_tm pore mcps we have now achieved resolutions of ~15_tm FWHM and
<l_tm electronic binning (Fig 1 & 2), and we can observe the pore position "quantization" effects for
MCP's with the standard pore sizes of 101.tm (121.tm center-center) or 12.5_tm (151xm center-center)
(Siegmund et al 1993). Smaller pore size MCP's are needed to reduce these position and resolution
modulations due to the pores and satisfy the needs for future high resolution small and large format
detectors.
MCP's with pore sizes in the range 5_tm to 8_tm are now being made, but they are not generally
available and are of limited size. We have samples of Galileo 8_m and 51xm MCP's, and several
Philips 7_tm (25mm) MCP's. We have tested a 4 MCP "W" stack of the Philips 7_tm pore 50:1 L/D
MCP's and achieved gains >2x107 with PHD's of <40% FWHM (Fig.5), and background rates of
<0.4 events sec -1 cm -2 (Siegmund et al 1996). In initial tests we have also found that the 8!ttm
Galileo MCP QDE is the same as regular 101.tm pore MCP's. To evaluate the limiting resolution of
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19970014007 2020-06-16T03:00:26+00:00Z
2small poreswe have illuminated 121.tmand 51amMCP's with visible light through an Air Force
resolution test mask (Fig. 3 & 4. The 51.tmMCP's easily resolve <81Ltmpatterns,also note the
multifiber boundaryin the51.tmMCP image,andporemisalignmentsat mutifiberboundaries(Group
5:6).
Figure 1Imagesof three101.tmpinholes
obtainedwith a 101amporeMCP Z stack
anda90mmx 15mmHDDL anodereadout.
60
50-
40-
_30-
0
2O-
,,,I,, I .... I .... I,,
• lit, tin FWHM 131a.m FWHM
w 13/.tm FWHM
o ._ :
lO- :. ,-
150 200 250 300 350
Position (I.tm)
Figure 2 Histogram of the pinhole images in
Figure 1 showing the point spread functions, &
structure of one peak due to discrete pore locations.
8l.tm bars ,I, Group 6:1 ,1,
Figure 3. Philips 121.tm pore
MCP illuminated with an Air
Force test mask pattern.
Figure 4. Galileo 51_m pore MCP
illuminated withan Air Force test
mask pattern.
100 __ 0.5
_50
300
; Background i :.
.50 : : : : ,.,,
: ' i i i _ 0.3,ooi+f
 t0.
,oo +
50"
O'_oi
0 510 _ 1 10_ 1.5 10_ 2 10 _2.510 _ 310 _
Gain
Figure 5. PHD for Philips 71.tm
pore MCP 4 x 50:1 L/D stack &
background rate vs threshold
(b) MCP fixed pattern noise
Future generations of soft X-ray imaging detectors will probably require an understanding the MCP
fiat field structure and stability at the level of individual MCP pores. Doing on-orbit high statistics
flat fields at high resolution (<20_m) for large format detectors would require a prohibitive amount of
time and memory. Since relatively low counting rates are normally expected a practical alternative is
to first calibrate the high resolution flat field and then employ image deconvolution techniques in
orbit. For this scheme to work the flat field fixed pattern modulation should be stable so that it is
possible to apply flat field corrections to the data, or to "dither" the images. To confirm this approach
we needgoodstatisticaldata(<3%)on variousMCP's with high resolution<201amandsmall scale
electronicbinning<<101.tmsothatthesmallscalestructureandstabilitycanbeevaluated.
Figure6. High resolutionflat field imagesof 12.51.tmporeMCP Z stack(crossdelayline readout).
a)Multifibers aligned b) Multifibers rotated7.3° c) Multifibers rotated 20 °
During the period of this grant we have made significant progress in understanding the nature of flat
field modulations for microchannel plate stacks. High resolution (<25gm) imaging with delay line
image readouts has proven instructive in probing the small scale structures of MCP flat field
modulations that were not visible at moderate resolution (50-1001.tm). Images with various MCP
configurations clearly show several kinds of fixed pattern modulation. These include dark spots,
multifiber modulation ('chicken wire') with periodicity of <lmm and small scale intensity variations (,
and in some cases Moire modulation (Fig.6). Our studies of these effects show that flat field intensity
multifiber modulation is accompanied by slight gain modulation, and can be attributed to the rear
MCP of a stack [Vallerga et at 1989]. This is probably due to distortions and deflections of the
charge cloud at multifiber boundaries at the output of the MCP. Dark spots are often blocked
channels or distortions and fractures of small groups of fibers. We have also found that Moire
modulation can be severe for high resolution imaging. Preliminary data (Fig. 6) indicates that the
relative rotation of the top and middle MCP's of a Z stack determine the Moire modulation. If the
MCP multifibers are aligned the Moire effect is not evident, but at a 20 ° rotation severe mottling (10-
20% modulation) occurs. This suggests care is needed in specification of MCP stacks for high
resolution applications so that this effect does not complicate image deconvolution.
Cross delay line anodes
For large format two dimensional imaging tasks we have devised a monolithic crossed delay line
anode (XDL) scheme. This scheme has two orthogonal sets of fingers (Figs. 7, 8) in the charge
collection area. The two sets are separated by a ground plane set of fingers and two thin, low E layers
(polyimide) with the same geometry as the upper finger set. The fingers in each axis are connected to
"external" serpentine delay lines etched onto Cu on a high e base substrate. This scheme allows the
ratio of finger widths, and the size of the active area to be varied independently from the delay line
design optimization. Anodes of this type with a 25 x 10mm format have now been extensively tested
and provide =251am resolution with good stability and linearity [Siegmund et al, 1995] and were used
successfully on the SOHO satellite.
During the period of this grant, we have continued our developments of large format XDL anodes,
specifically a 65 x 65mm format anode (Fig. 8). Bench tests show that this has similar delay and
propagation characteristics to the more conventional double delay-line (DDL) anode electrodes and
thus should perform in a similar way. The tests indicate that resolutions of the order <25tim should be
attainable for the current anode configuration.
]I
Figure 7. Close up of the corner of an XDL anode
showing the external X and Y delay lines, and the
X (lower) and Y (upper) charge collection fingers.
Figure 8. Photo of a 65mm x 65mm format
XDL anode with external X and Y delay
lines that is currently in test,
Test Facilities
Over the past 3 years we have built up an extensive test facility for the evaluation and calibration of
MCP detector systems. A class 1000 clean room has been fabricated, adjacent to the vacuum test
facility, which is used for MCP handling and detector assembly. A dual-chamber vacuum tank with
associated "test-bed" detector systems has been fabricated under the terms of this award for the
testing and evaluation of MCP's, photocathode lifetesting, and the test of delay-line readout schemes.
The dual- chamber has been fabricated such that it can carry out both the detector resolution, linearity
and flat-field tests, and has been configured to have the ability to carry out the MCP bake-out and
burn-in procedures using a thermostatically controlled thermal blanket in order to obtain heating up to
- 300°C. By fabricating 2 test chambers on a common vacuum pump, detector tests can be canied out
on multiple detectors in an independent and time efficient manner.
Each test chamber shares a high vacuum pumping system (consisting of a rough pump, cryo-pump
and associated pressure gauges) capable of obtaining a vacuum pressure of << 10 -6 Torr. They
contain FUV (MgF2, LiF and quartz) windows to allow detector stimulation by various calibration
lamps. The vacuum chambers, MCP's and anode structures are assembled in a controlled, clean
environment within a Class 1000 clean room tent with associated Class 100 detector assembly flow
benches. The test chamber is supported by various laboratory rack-mounted electronics for control
and display of detector peformance parameters, with the rack being interfaced to both Macintosh and
SUN Sparc computers for subsequent data analysis functions.
MCP Preconditioning Studies
The gain and pulse amplitude distribution of MCP's is not constant with long term use. Our program
of life tests of MCP's has shown that there is an initial sharp drop in the gain, followed by a slow
decrease towards a plateau region of stable operation (Siegmund et al 1989) The initial gain drop is
associated with outgassing of the channel walls, while the slow stabilization is thought to relate to
migration of alkali metals in the MCP glass. An established technique is to "precondition" the MCP's
to stabilize their performance. This preconditioning and processing of MCPs consists of a sequence of
cleaming, baking, depositing a photocathode, and then finally scrubbing the MCP stack. During the
last 3 years we have systematically refined and improved this preconditioning process.
Extensivelaboratorytestingof manydifferent setsof MCPshasshownthat optimalplatecleaningis
gained using a series of isopropyl and methyl alcohol ultrasonic baths. After a detector is assembled
and initial MCP functional tests have been performed, the entire detector assembly is vacuum baked
at temperatures chosen to fall below the softening point of the MCP glass (normally at 120°C for 6
hours). Typically, a vacuum pressure of << 10-°Torr is established before detector bake-out. The
pressure and the partial pressure of gases are then monitored during the bake such that volatiles may
be identified using residual gas analysis, and hence the effectiveness of the bake can be ascertained.
This procedure was best achieved using a controlled insulated heating collar on the vacuum chamber
that established a limited rate, and duration, of heating which prevented any fracturing of components
due to severe thermal differentials. Subsequent to the bake-out, the detector gain, pulse height
spectrum, and other characteristics were measured to determine the optimum bake procedure required
to ensure constant detector operational parameters. An example of the bake-out procedure carried out
on the SOHO MCPs is given in Siegmund et al (1995).
After photocathode deposition on the MCPs, a high flux "burn in" or "scrub" is preformed to stabilize
the overal MCP gain. The scrub procedure involves illumination of the detector with light from an Hg
vapor lamp (the principal UV emission lines being 1879/_ and 2537]k). It was determined that best
results are gained when the detectors are operated during the scub with an overall voltage of - 700V
below the nominal operating range. The DC current from the MCPs is continually monitored during
the scub (typically 1 _A), such that the total charge extraction (~ 0.05 - 0.1 C cm -2) can be
determined. We found that for the SOHO MCPs the scrub behavior of the plates was unusual in that
some MCP stacks did not show significant gain drop with charge extractions up to a level of 0.1 C
cm -2 . This anomalous behavior has been observed for scrubs performed at different times for two
different boules of MCP glass, and on MCP areas both with and without photocathodes (Siegmund et
al 1995).
References
Siegmund, O.H.W. et al., Proc SPIE, 1072, 111 (1989)
Siegmund, O.H.W. et al., Proc. SPIE, 2006, 176 (1993)
Siegmund, O.H.W. et al., Proc. SPIE, 2280, 89 (1994)
Siegmund, O.H.W. et al., Proc. SPIE, 2518, 344 (1995)
Siegmund, O.H.W. et al., Proc. SPIE, 2808, 98 (1996)
Vallerga, J.V. et al., Proc. SPIE, 1159, 362 (1989)
Vallerga, J.V. et al, Nucl.Instr. methods, A310, 317 (1991)


High Spatial Resolution Investigations of Microchannel Plate Imaging Properties for UV Detectors

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