Researchers at the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (IAAT) at the University of Tübingen have been working on advancing microchannel plate (MCP) detectors for ultraviolet (UV) astronomy. These detectors have been a mainstay in UV astronomy for many years and are still planned for use in several upcoming UV instruments. The team, led by Dr. Stefan Diebold and including researchers such as Johannes Barnstedt, Luca Conti, and others, is focused on improving the sensitivity, resolution, and lifetime of MCP detectors while reducing their weight, volume, and power consumption.
The researchers have made significant progress in two key areas. First, they have developed a method to coat aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) photocathodes directly onto MCPs. This innovation aims to enhance the quantum detection efficiency of the detectors, particularly in the far- and extreme-UV ranges. The AlGaN photocathodes are known for their high sensitivity to UV light, making them an ideal choice for this application.
Second, the team has implemented a non-iterative centroiding algorithm for their coplanar cross-strip anode directly in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This algorithm is designed to improve the precision of the detector’s spatial resolution, which is crucial for capturing detailed images in UV astronomy. The use of an FPGA allows for real-time processing, making the detector more efficient and responsive.
The practical applications of this research extend beyond astronomy. MCP detectors with improved sensitivity and resolution could be valuable in various energy sector applications, such as monitoring and maintaining solar panels, inspecting high-voltage equipment for UV emissions, and enhancing the performance of UV-based spectroscopy in energy research. The advancements in AlGaN photocathodes and centroiding algorithms could also lead to more efficient and accurate UV sensors for industrial and environmental monitoring.
This research was published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, highlighting the ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of detector technology for UV astronomy and beyond. The findings represent a step forward in the development of more advanced and efficient MCP detectors, with potential benefits for both scientific research and industrial applications.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.