Further microsphere plate studies

Abstract The microsphere plate is a new type of electron multiplier similar to the microchannel plate in dimensions and mode of operation, but manufactured from microscopic glass beads sintered to form a wafer of user definable thickness. We present further measurements taken using a detector utilizing one or more microsphere plates with a charge division anode for imaging purposes. Charge division anode systems are well-suited to the microsphere plate as they benefit from the relatively large charge footprint which occurs during multiplication unlike other read-out systems, such as phosphors, whose performance is degraded by a large charge footprint. A comparison between the imaging performance of single thickness and double thickness MSPs is given and we investigate the mechanism causing variability of quantum efficiency with position using a bare microsphere plate illuminated with ultraviolet light. The potential advantages in the imaging performance of a hybrid detector using microchannel and microsphere plates in tandem are discussed and imaging performance measurements with such a combination are presented.