Microchannel plate detector technologies for next generation UV instruments

Microchannel plate (MCP), photon-counting detectors are currently being used with great success on many NASA and ESA missions [refs. 1-11] making observations in the 100-3000 Angstrom range. MCP detectors for future missions will require that technologies be developed to provide larger formats (100 mm +) with custom shapes and curvature profiles, high spatial resolution (<15 mu m), low background (< 0.05 sec(-1) cm(-2)), high efficiency (>50%), and high counting rates (>1 MHz) with low power and small volume and weight. We discuss the current steps that are being taken to achieve these goals. Work on opaque photocathodes is underway which will provide >50% efficiency from 100 Angstrom to >3000 Angstrom. MCPs with smaller pores (less than or equal to 5 mu m) are becoming available, which support high resolution and high local counting rates (>100 sec(-1) pore(-1)). Delay line readout systems are approaching resolution of <15 mu m with design formats up to 100 mm x 100 mm. These anodes are now UHV and high temperature compatible for use in sealed tube devices for near-UV and visible sensors. Delay line readout electronics to achieve multi-megahertz rates is on the near-term horizon, with low power (a few Watts) and small size. New readouts like the cross strip are being developed which have the potential for high rates (10 MHz) at low power (<2 Watts) with low mass and volume (ASIC). The cross strip also has the potential for high resolution (<10 mu m) over large formats and the ability to register multiple, simultaneous events. In addition, MCP intensifiers with CCDs and CIDs are now achieving MCP pore level resolution, and the counting rates are improving (>100 kHz) as electronics systems mature.