Monte Carlo Simulation of Electron Scattering in Ion Barrier Film in Generation III Image Intensifier

Abstract:

In Generation III image intensifier tubes, the input of the microchannel plate is typically coated with a thin Al2O3 film to prevent ions penetrating and damaging the delicate Cs-O activation layer of GaAs cathode. While the application of an ion barrier film to the MCP greatly improves the mean time to failure of the image intensifier tube, it unfortunately produces electron scattering to cause a significant degradation in the Modulation Transfer Function and resolution of the image tubes. To obtain an overview of the role of the ion barrier in Generation III image intensifiers, in this paper, we present the results of a Monte Carlo simulation on scattering electron transport through Al2O3 film with various photocathode voltage, density, thickness, and stoichiometry. Using Monte Carlo simulation on scattering electron ways, we get the MTF curve of film at the accelerating voltage of 400v, a thickness of 10nm, and a density of 0.3 g/cm3. The simulation results play an important role on optimizing the quality and facture technique of ion barrier film.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 552)
• Pages: 193-200
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.552.193
• Online since: May 2013
• Authors: Yao Jing Cheng, Lei Yan, Feng Shi, Feng Liu, Min Li, Hong Li Shi, Zhi Peng Hou
• Keywords: Electron Scattering, Image Intensifier, Ion Barrier Film (IBF), Microchannel Plate, Monte-Carlo Simulation, MTF

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