Ion Feedback Suppression for Microchannel PlateApplied to Third Generation Image Intensifiers

The application of an Ion barrier film (IBF)over the input side of the Microchannel plate (MCP), toprotect the Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) photocathode fromdamage by the ion feedback from MCP during operation,while provide third generation (Gen. 3) image intensifierwith longevity of service, also cause which sufferd a significantdegradation in Signal to noise ratio (SNR). Thus,for improventment of the SNR of Gen. 3 image intensifier,the essential way is to suppress the generation of ionfeedback within MCP in order to thin the IBF or evencompletely removal of it. In this paper a MCP based ona glass-ceramic substrate was developed, this MCP withoptimizations of glass composition and devitrification remodificationof microstructure which show great promiseto suppress the generation of ion feedback within MCP,making it possible to thin the IBF and fabricate a Gen.3 image intensifier with improved SNR while maintainingreliability requirement.