Curved-channel microchannel array plates

Microchannel array plates (MCPs) in which the channels are curved to inhibit ion-feedback, in an identical manner to that employed in a conventional channel electron multiplier, have been fabricated and their performance characteristics have been evaluated. These devices represent a major advance in MCP technology since a single curved-channel MCP can be operated stably at high gain in the pulse-counting mode. Gains of greater than 106 electrons pulse−1 have been obtained at applied potentials of the order of 2000 V with maximum count-rate capabilities exceeding 105 counts mm−2s−1 and lifetimes exceeding 2.5×1011 counts mm−2.