Development of a low-cost fast-timing microchannel plate photodetector

Abstract We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of a prototype 6 × 6 cm 2 microchannel plate photodetector with precise fast-timing measurement capability. The whole assembly is made of low cost glass materials with a bialkali photocathode top window. All components are hermetically sealed in vacuum. The prototype photodetector exhibits time resolution of 65 ps and 16 ps at single-photoelectron and multi-photoelectron levels, respectively. The spatial resolution reaches 0.54 mm for multi-photoelectron measurements. The bialkali photocathode exhibits a maximum quantum efficiency exceeding 20% with a uniformity of ± 40 % .