MCP gated picosecond X-Ray framing camera

The working principle of gated MCP framing camera is reviewed. And a new gated MCP framing camera system is reported. Some technical consideration of system design of the framing camera system is discussed. The new camera system consists of a proximity focused MCP imager with four parallel stripline cathodes, a control unit, and a mechanical system for pinholes mounting and adjustment. The MCP of the imager is 56mm in diameter and 0. 5mm in thickness, and the channel diameter is 12 pim. The fiber-optic face plate is coated with P20 phosphor screen. The pinholes system with its two orthogonal arranged stepping motors can adjust the pinholes precisely to the correct position. The control unit provides all the power supply of the camera system including voltage to phosphor screen, gating pulses to MCP, bias and static checking voltage of MCP, control signals for stepping motors, and power for UV light and illuminating light for pinholes. The four gating pulses of the striplines are generated by two sharpening diode circuit driven by one high voltage step pulse which is formed by avalanche transistor circuit. The time interval between striplines can be adjusted easily by varying the length of the coaxial connected sharpening circuit to imager. The pinholes can be driven either by manual or computer controls. The images is recorded with a film contacting the face plate of a TE/CCD system. With the screen voltage supplied by Control unit set to 2-6kV, 3. 5kV, the camera system can work at low vacuum to 5 �� 10 -5 �� 133. 3224Pa with 2. 6kV or at higher vacuum to get a better spatial resolution and gain with 4. 5kV. The static spatial resolution of the camera is measured to be 15lp/mm with 10% modulation. And measured exposure time of the camera ranges from 60 ps to 100 ps with different MCP bias set with 90V to-90V. The camera had been used at the 11 # high power laser system and several important results of different target type were taken by the camera successfully.