Cross-strip anodes for high-rate single-photon imaging

Abstract

Novel microchannel plate (MCP) imaging detectors using cross strip (XS) anodes have been developed recently and demonstrated to be capable of position resolution better than ten microns, nanosecond timing accuracy, and event rates of greater than 3 × 10 5 counts per second. These detectors use charge division and centroiding of MCP charge signals directed onto two orthogonal layers of sensing anode strips to encode event position, event time, and signal amplitude. In this paper, we describe measurements designed to understand the maximum possible event rates that such detectors are capable of handling. For these measurements, the signals from each strip (32 on each axis for the anode discussed here) are sent to a preamplifier ASIC that outputs shaped unipolar pulses with 40 ns rise time and 200 ns fall time, which are then digitized at 62.5 mega-samples per second and written to disk. Offline analysis is performed on long data records (up to 25 milliseconds) containing many individual events at event rates up to 10 8 counts per second with different spatial distributions over the detector area. We present analysis algorithms and results on our measured ability to resolve events spatially and temporally as the event rate is increased. We also briefly discuss future plans to develop compact, fieldable systems based on this XS anode technology for a variety of applications, from astronomy to remote sensing.

Quantum ghost imaging of undisturbed live plants

“…9 Here, we have narrowed the correlation window by 30-fold by replacing the ICCD and optical delay line used in previous implementations of wide-field quantum ghost imaging with NCam (Nocturnal Camera). 10,11,12 NCam is a crossed-delay line detector that records the location as well as the arrival time of a detected photon with sub-nanosecond precision. Unlike a camera that integrates photon detections into frames before readout, NCam is an event-based sensor that records event streams.…”

Infrared quantum ghost imaging of living and undisturbed plants

“…as the spatially-resolving detector for the signal photons. NCam (Nocturnal Camera) is a photocathode-based imaging device with sub-nanosecond timing resolution [17][18][19][20]. Unlike conventional frame-based cameras or SPAD arrays, NCam is a non-pixelated detector.…”

A photon-counting camera system developed from a crossed-strip detector

“…The crossed-strip (XS) sensor [1][2][3] has been developed to address some of the limitations of the currentgeneration crossed delay line (XDL) sensor. [4][5][6] The operation of both sensors is based on similar principles.…”