Microchannel plate (MCP) having an asymmetric packing pattern for higher open area ratio (OAR)

1. A structure for a microchannel plate (MCP) comprising

a plurality of multifibers, each multifiber having rows of fibers arranged in a symmetrical hexagonal configuration, each hexagonal configuration having a boundary, and

a plurality of single rows of fibers, in addition to the plurality of multifibers,

wherein each single row is disposed along a respective boundary of a multifiber,

the single row of fibers is disposed between two adjacent boundary rows of multifibers, and

a fiber of the single row is packed between two fibers of one of the two adjacent rows of multifibers, and between two fibers of the other one of the two adjacent rows of mutifibers, forming triangular shapes of fibers.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein

a multifiber and a single row of fibers, the latter disposed along the respective multifiber, form an asymmetrical hexagonal arrangement of fibers.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein

each multifiber includes a first row of fibers packed along a second row of fibers, and

a fiber of the first row is packed adjacent to two fibers of the second row, forming a triangular shape of fibers.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein

each multifiber includes a row of boundary fibers forming the respective boundary, and

a fiber of a single row of fibers is packed adjacent to two fibers of the boundary fibers, forming a triangular shape of fibers.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein

the triangular shape of fibers forms a maximum open area ratio (OAR) of at least 90 percent.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein

the rows of fibers include core fibers and cladding fibers, wherein the cladding fibers surround the core fibers.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein

the plurality of single rows of fibers and the plurality of multifibers are configured to form a boule, and

the boule is configured for dicing during fabrication of the MCP.

8. A boule for making a multichannel plate (MCP) comprising

at least two sets of rows of fibers, each set arranged to form a hexagonally shaped boundary of fibers, and

an additional row of fibers disposed between the two sets of hexagonally shaped boundary of fibers,

wherein each set includes a horizontally oriented row of fibers comprising a portion of the hexagonally shaped boundary of fibers,

the additional row of fibers includes a horizontally oriented row of fibers, and

the additional row of fibers is packed on top of the horizontally oriented boundary of fibers.

9. The boule of claim 8 wherein

a fiber of the horizontally oriented row of fibers of the boundary of fibers is packed adjacent to two consecutive fibers of the additional row of fibers, forming a triangular shape of fibers.

10. The boule of claim 9 wherein

the triangular shape of fibers forms a maximum open area ratio (OAR) of at least 90 percent.

11. The boule of claim 8 wherein

the other horizontally oriented row of fibers of the other set of the at least two sets is packed on top of the additional row of fibers forming another triangular shape of fibers.

12. The boule of claim 8 including

multiple sets of fibers, each set including a boundary row of horizontally oriented fibers, and

a plurality of additional rows of fibers, each additional row of fibers packed on top of a respective boundary row of horizontally oriented fibers.

13. A method of fabricating a boule for a multichannel plate (MCP) comprising the steps of:

forming at least first and second stacks of multifibers, each stack having horizontal rows of fibers arranged in a symmetrical hexagonal configuration,

forming a single row of fibers on top of the first stack, and

placing the second stack on top of the single row of fibers.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein

forming the single row of fibers includes stacking each fiber of the single row between two adjacent fibers of the top of the first stack, and

placing the second stack includes adjusting the second stack so that a fiber of the second stack is disposed between two adjacent fibers of the single row of fibers.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein

forming the at least first and second stacks includes packing fibers having cores and claddings into the horizontal rows of fibers arranged in the symmetrical hexagonal configuration.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein

packing fibers includes stacking one row of fibers on top of another row of fibers by placing a fiber of a row between two fibers of an adjacent lower row to form a triangular shape of fibers.

17. The method of claim 13 including the step of:

slicing the boule to form multiple MCPs.