Technology discussion of reducing the equivalent background illumination of Gen Ⅲ Image Intensifier

Yu-feng Zhu; Ni Zhang; Dan Li; Jing Nie; Tai-min Zhang; Xiao-jian Liu; Zhao-lu Liu; Ling-Yun Fu

doi:10.1117/12.2034058

16 August 2013 Technology discussion of reducing the equivalent background illumination of Gen Ⅲ Image Intensifier

Yu-feng Zhu, Ni Zhang, Dan Li, Jing Nie, Tai-min Zhang, Xiao-jian Liu, Zhao-lu Liu, Ling-Yun Fu

Proceedings Volume 8912, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: Low-Light-Level Technology and Applications; 89120Z (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2034058
Event: ISPDI 2013 - Fifth International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging, 2013, Beijing, China

Abstract

As the development of Gen III Image Intensifier, photocathode sensitivity, spatial static resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the devices are continuously improved except for the view effect. However, for most devices, the equivalent background illumination (EBI) is excessive, and considerable part is more than an order of magnitude. Many factors have an effect on the EBI of the Gen III Image Intensifier. By academic analysis and experiment research, it is demonstrated that: It is the thermal electron emission of photocathode, dark current, gain of micro-channel plate (MCP) with ion barrier film(IBF), electric field strength between MCP and photocathode and the light feedback of phosphor that lend to the EBI, but for the phosphor screen made by the normal process, because of the aluminum film, EBI caused by the optical feedback is slightly lower, which can not cause the excessive EBI. For the MCP with IBF after normal processing, even the first focused voltage is added to 350V, the EBI does not exceed the highest value of 1.66×10^-7 allowed by national military standard. Needless to say the photocathode is the focus factor of the EBI after excluding the phosphor screen, the MCP and other influencing factors. It is believed that the thermal electron emission of photocathode leads to the excessive EBI. Finally, without reducing the photocathode sensitivity, by optimizing activation technics, i.e., reduce CsO quantity, and aging test disposal, the thermal electron emission is weaken, the EBI is becoming lower, most of the products satisfy with request of technical standard in this index. That is valuable to accelerate the engineering of Gen III Image Intensifier.

Citation Download Citation

Yu-feng Zhu, Ni Zhang, Dan Li, Jing Nie, Tai-min Zhang, Xiao-jian Liu, Zhao-lu Liu, and Ling-Yun Fu "Technology discussion of reducing the equivalent background illumination of Gen Ⅲ Image Intensifier", Proc. SPIE 8912, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: Low-Light-Level Technology and Applications, 89120Z (16 August 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2034058

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