Microchannel plate gated X-ray nanosecond framing camera

A novel microchannel plate (MCP) gated X-ray nanosecond framing camera is developed. The camera system consists of a proximity-focused framing image-converted tube with traveling-wave gated micro-stripe optoelectric cathode, an electronic control unit, a mechanical system for pinholes mounting, adjusting and a high vacuum system. The electronic control unit provides all the power supply of the camera system including voltage to phosphor screen, gating pulses to MCP, bias and static checking voltage of MCP. The images are recorded with a scientific CCD camera coupled to the fiber optic phosphor screen. The photocathode of image-converted tube consists of Au of 50 nm thickness. Eight framing images can be abstained. The energy spectrum response of the camera ranges from 0.1 keV to 10 keV. The exposure time of the camera can be changed is 1 ns, 2 ns and 5 ns in three scales and time interval between frames from 2 ns, 5 ns and 10 ns in three scales. The dynamic spatial resolution is better than 18 lp/mm. The triggering jitter is down to 100 ps with exposure time shifting less than 5%. The fiber remote transmission and control are incorporated in the nanosecond framing camera system. The achieval experimental results on the static, dynamic characteristics and Z-pinch application show that the camera can run in a strong electromagnetic environment. In this case, the camera has little geometric distortion and wide dynamic range and provides good control and high capturing rate. Such a camera system can be utilized in the investigation of Z-pinch for recording X-ray.