Development of a Two-dimensional Position-Sensitive Photon Counter with -nsec Timing Resolution and -10μ m Position Resolution

我们研究了MBWC位置编码技术的特性。从理论和实验上分析了影响位置分辨率的因素。与其他方法相比，MBWC方法具有许多优点：位置分辨率高、定时特性快、图像失真小、结构简单。并以电容网络模型为例说明了MBWC方法的优化过程。文中还详细研究了光子计数器的电子倍增级的优化设计，即采用MBWC阳极的MCP基电子探测器，并指出了几个重要的预防措施。基于这些结果，制作和测试光子计数器的装置已经完成。未来的问题如下。首先，应进一步研究光子计数器的特性，即灵敏度、位置分辨率、图像的线性度和定时特性的一致性。将波长范围扩展到可见光可能会带来许多卓有成效的应用。最后，应该研究更方便的方法来处理电子倍增阶段-例如，三重MCP组件，背面读出的半导体阳极，以及MCP的“饱和模式”操作。

We have studied the properties of the MBWC position-encoding technique. The factors affecting the position resolutions have been analyzed theoretically and experimentally. Many advantages of the MBWC method over the other technique have been found; high position resolution, fast timing property, little image distortion, and simplicity in construction. The optimization procedure of the MBWC method has been also clarified with a capacitor-network model. The optimum design of the electron-multiplication stage of the photon counter, i. e. the MCP-based electron detector equipped with a MBWC anode, have been also studied in detail and several precautions have been shown to be essentially important. Based on these results the construction of the apparatus for fabricating and testing a photon counter has been completed.Future problems are as follows. First, the further study on photon-counter properties, i. e. the uniformity of sensitivity, position resolution, linearity of images, and timing properties, should be carried out. Extension of the wavelength range to visible light may lead to many fruitful application. Finally, more convenient ways to handle the electron-multiplication stage should be investigated --- for example, a triple-MCP assembly, a semi-conductor anode with rear-face readout, and the "saturated mode" operation of the MCPs.