High Gain Microchannel Plates

Improvements in the performance of high gain microchannel plates over the conventional Chevron are reported. The performance characteristics of a curved channel, a laminated MCP and a Chevron with an interposed mesh are reported. The curved channel MCP exhibits a pulse amplitude distribution as narrow as 45% FWHM at a gain of 106, whereas the laminated Chevron configuration exhibits a 75% FWHM at a gain of 2.5x106. A conventional Chevron with a metal mesh between the microchannel plates exhibits comparable gain to the conventional Chevron and a narrower pulse amplitude distribution.