High performance cross strip imaging readout Planacon sealed tubes

Sealed tube microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have provided a valuable platform for high time resolution photon counting detectors. Specifically, electronic readout MCP based sensors have been used as photon counting, imaging, event time tagging detectors for astronomy, time resolved biological imaging, imaging LIDAR, Cherenkov (RICH), scintillation detection, and neutron imaging. For future initiatives we have been developing novel atomic layer deposited MCPs, UV photocathodes and cross strip (XS) readouts for sealed tube detectors. Novel, atomic layer deposited MCPs can replace standard MCPs, providing enhanced gain stability with reduced intrinsic background and lower gamma ray sensitivity. Additionally, XS readouts provide a compact package to achieve high resolution imaging of single photon positions at low MCP gain. The Photonis Planacon is a commercial sealed tube detector (∼50 mm area) which we have modified to incorporate these novel technologies and demonstrate their performance and robustness.