SBIR Phase II: New Ceramic Sub-Microchannel Plates

这项SBIR第二阶段研究项目计划开发先进的高分辨率陶瓷微通道板(S-MCP)并将其商业化，用于低视和夜视设备、科学探测器和生物医学成像。传统的玻璃纤维MCP技术在空间和时间分辨率、固定图案噪声、高计数率能力、热性能、成品率和重复性、稳定性和寿命方面已经达到了其基本极限。这是一种基于纳米多孔陶瓷的独特方法，可以达到超高亚微米的分辨率。由于其陶瓷性质，建议的S-MCP能够处理高达1000摄氏度的温度，使先进的光电阴极能够直接集成，以扩大光谱范围和灵敏度，并有望比现有方法生产的光电阴极具有更长的寿命。此外，陶瓷S-MCPs的生产成本比玻璃MCPs低得多。一种坚固的陶瓷结构已经被开发出来，具有所需的尺寸和电阻。最大的挑战是用这种结构材料制作功能S-微通道板的原型，并验证S-微通道板的性能。所提出的工作的预期结果是一种制造技术，用于生产性能更好、寿命更长、成本更低的具有商业可行性的亚微通道板增强器。这可能为开发用于红外、紫外线、X射线和伽马射线天体物理应用的下一代粒子和光子探测系统开辟新的机会。陶瓷MCP的副产品应用包括用于X射线探测器和气体雪崩探测器的龙虾眼光学元件。商业应用包括用于高能物理、科学仪器、生物医学成像、商业卫星测绘、视觉增强以及消费夜视产品的探测器。

This SBIR Phase II research project proposes to develop and commercialize advanced high- resolution ceramic microchannel plates (s-MCPs) for applications in low- and night vision devices, scientific detectors and biomedical imaging. Conventional glass-fiber MCP technology has reached its fundamental limits in spatial and temporal resolution, fixed pattern noise, high count rate capabilities, thermal performance, yield and reproducibility, stability and lifetime. This is a unique approach based on nanoporous ceramics, which allows reaching ultra-high sub-micron resolution. Due their ceramic nature, the proposed s-MCPs are capable of processing temperatures up to 1000 degrees celsius, enabling direct integration of advanced photocathodes for expanded spectral range and sensitivity, and are also expected to have greater lifetime than those produced with existing methods. In addition ceramic s-MCPs can be produced at a much lower cost than glass MCPs. A robust ceramic structure with the required dimensions and resistance has been developed. The remaimimg challenge is to fabricate functional s-MCP prototypes from this structural material, along with validation of s-MCP performance.The expected result of the proposed work is a manufacturing technology for production of commercially viable sub-microchannel plate intensifiers with better performance, longer lifetime and lower cost. This could open up new opportunities in the development of the next generation particle and photon detection systems for the infrared, UV, x-ray and gamma ray astrophysics applications. Spin-off applications for ceramic MCPs include "lobster eye" optics for x-ray detectors as well as gas avalanche detectors. Commercial applications include detectors for high-energy physics, scientific instrumentation, biomedical imaging, commercial satellite mapping, vision augmentation, as well as consumer night vision products.