单光子灵敏和高时空分辨的大动态范围科学增强相机

Large Dynamic Range Science Intensified Camera with Single Photon Sensitivity and High Spatiotemporal Resolution

增强相机结合了MCP增强器和图像传感器这两个成熟的技术,便于对其各组件构成的优化及择优组合,获得单光子灵敏的探测能力,以及精确的空间和时间分辨能力,可在极微弱光条件下获得准确的位置和时间信息,成为一个可用于科学成像的理想的大面阵成像探测器,特别是可结合门控电源,获得超快的曝光时间,并使增强相机也可在较高的光照条件下工作,覆盖一个相当大的工作范围。本文描述了增强相机的构成及其各构成组件的工作特性,介绍了MCP增强器各组件的择优组合和优化构成,结合一个门控电源对光阴极的超高速和高频率的选通,以及一个百万像素的图像传感器经光学耦合后的高速读出,科学增强相机可具有纳秒甚至亚纳秒的时间分辨力,并兼具模拟和光子计数两种模式的大动态范围成像能力,在光子计数模式,具有可达到单光子探测灵敏度,和106 count?s-1?cm-2数量级以上的最大计数率,以及10?m(FWHM)的空间分辨的能力。

An intensified camera contains a hybrid detector that combines two established technologies, MCP intensification and image sensing, which facilitates optimal configuration and is the preffered choice for each assembly unit to achieve photon counting imaging with single photon sensitivity and precise spatiotemporal resolution. Therefore, this equipment becomes an ideal large format image detector for science images, which need accurate position and temporal information under extremely low level light conditions. With a high speed gate power supply, this camera can provide not only an ultrafast exposure time, but also a very large operation range to extend operation in higher light level conditions. The configuration of the intensifier camera including the operation properties of its main components is described. The preferred combination and optimal assembly of each main component for a MCP intensifier is introduced, combining a power supply with ultrafast speed and high repetition frequency for photocathode gating, and an optical coupler with a megapixel image sensor for high speed readout. The science intensified camera can have a nanosecond and even sub-nanosecond temporal timing capability, and operates over a large dynamic range with two operation modes： analog mode and photon count mode. The camera is expected to operate in photon count mode with single photo detection sensitivity, a maximum counting rate more than 106 Counts sec-1 cm-2, and a spatial resolution less than 10 μm （FWHM）.