Monocrystal-based microchannel plate image intensifier
A monocrystalline scintillator comprises a monocrystal and an optical plate wherein a first side of the monocrystal is adhered to the optical plate. The monocrystal comprises at least one of a rare earth garnet, a perovskite crystal, a rare-earth silicate, and a monocrystal oxysulphide. The scintillator assembly includes an adhesive adhering the optical plate to the first side of the monocrystal. The adhesive can comprise an ultra-high vacuum compatible adhesive. The adhesive is substantially transparent and has a refractive index matching the optical plate. The scintillator assembly can also include a reflective coating on the second side of the monocrystal. The monocrystalline scintillator assembly can be incorporated in a microchannel plate image intensifier tube to provide improved spatial resolution and temporal response.
1. A system, comprising:
a monocrystal with a thickness between 5 microns and 20 microns, and with a decay time between 40 ns and 80 ns, said monocrystal comprising a single monocrystal with a doped volume and an undoped volume, with a total thickness that is twice that of a thickness of the doped volume;
an adhesive; and
an optical plate comprising a fiber optic plate wherein a first side of said monocrystal is physically adhered to said optical plate with said adhesive.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said monocrystal comprises at least one of:
a doped rare earth garnet;
a perovskite crystal;
a rare-earth silicate; and
a monocrystal oxysulphide.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said monocrystal has a diameter between 18 mm and 100 mm.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said fiber optic plate is operably connected to a fiber optic bundle.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:
a first interface operably connecting said fiber optic bundle and said fiber optic plate;
an image sensor; and
a second interface operably connecting said fiber optic bundle and said image sensor.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:
a layer on a second side of said monocrystal, wherein said layer on said second side of said monocrystal comprises a reflective coating said reflective coating being 50 nm-300 nm thick.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a microchannel plate image intensifier tube configured for imaging, comprising:
a photocathode; and
a microchannel plate;
wherein said optical plate comprises an output window in said microchannel plate image intensifier tube.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein said monocrystal has a uniform emission.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said monocrystal has a surface flatness of at least lambda/2 at 550 nm.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said monocrystal has a diameter between 1 mm and 2 mm less than a diameter of said optical plate.
11. An imaging device comprising:
a monocrystal with a thickness between 50 microns and 100 microns said monocrystal further comprising a single monocrystal with a doped volume and an undoped volume and a total thickness that is twice that of a thickness of said doped volume;
an adhesive;
an optical plate comprising a fiber optic plate wherein a first side of said monocrystal is physically adhered to said fiber optic plate with said adhesive;
a layer on a second side of said monocrystal; and
a microchannel plate image intensifier tube configured for imaging, comprising:
a photocathode; and
a microchannel plate;
wherein said optical plate comprises an output window in said microchannel plate image intensifier tube, wherein said imaging device is configured for indirect X-ray imaging.
12. The imaging device of claim 11 wherein said fiber optic plate has a thickness of at least 4 mm, said fiber optic plate thereby providing X-ray attenuation.
13. The imaging device of claim 12 wherein said fiber optic plate has a numerical aperture of 0.4 or less, and said layer on said second side of said monocrystal comprises a reflective coating said reflective coating having a thickness of 50 nm-300 nm.
14. A method comprising:
physically affixing a first side of a monocrystal with a thickness between 5 microns and 20 microns, a decay time between 40 ns and 80 ns, wherein the monocrystal comprises a single monocrystal with a doped volume and an undoped volume, with a total thickness that is twice that of a thickness of said doped volume, to an optical plate with an adhesive;
configuring a layer on a second side of said monocrystal thereby forming a monocrystalline scintillator; and
configuring the optical plate as an output window in a microchannel plate image intensifier tube, the microchannel plate image intensifier tube, comprising:
a photocathode; and
a microchannel plate.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein configuring a layer on a second side of said monocrystal further comprises:
coating a reflective coating on said second side of said monocrystal said reflective coating having a thickness of 50 nm-300 nm.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said monocrystal has a diameter between 18 mm and 100 mm.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
ultrasonically cleaning said monocrystalline scintillator; and
baking said monocrystalline scintillator.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein said monocrystal comprises a single monocrystal.