An Optically Scanned SEC Camera Tube

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the initial results obtained with a secondary electron conduction (SEC) camera tube employing optical scanning. This approach offers the possibility of the high resolution and signal-to-noise ratio needed for the efficient recording of optical information. The goal of the work described in this chapter is to develop a photoelectronic device which offers an attractive alternative to the use of a photographic emulsion. Such a device would combine three essential features: (1) a photocathode with high quantum yield; (2) an electrical storage element with sufficient integration capability and storage capacitance; and (3) resolution at least approaching that of a coarse photographic emulsion. Further improvements in the tube resolution are anticipated. It is planned to modify the reading section of the tube and at a later stage of development use the intense magnetic field that can be provided by a superconducting magnet. With these improvements it should be possible to build an optically scanned camera tube which will approach the resolution capability of a photographic emulsion and at the same time provide a greater storage capacity and significantly higher quantum efficiency.