Single Photon Counting Imager

Abstract

The invention relates to a single photon counting and imaging detection device. A high-voltage power supply of the device is connected with a micro-imaging reinforced tube through a high tension lead; a display, an image processing device and a printer are connected with a computer respectively; an anode collector is arranged between the micro-imaging reinforced tube and a preamplifier; the anode collector comprises a substrate, an electrode plated on the substrate and a signal lead; an anode is connected with the preamplifier through the signal lead; and the micro-imaging reinforced tube comprises a photocathode and a microchannel plate connected with the photocathode which are arranged sequentially along a light path. The device has the characteristics that the device can read out a time mark for arriving time and a general image of integral in a period, realize the single photon counting and two-dimensional imaging detection of an extremely-weak object, has the function of single photon counting, and can perform two-dimensional imaging on the extremely-weak luminous object. The device has the advantages of large area array, high sensitivity, low dark count, high resolution factor, good imaging linearity and the real-time measurement and processing.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a photon counting imager for extremely weak light signal detection, in particular to a single photon counting imager for space extremely weak ultraviolet light information detection. Background technique [0002] At present, the requirements for extremely weak light measurement in many fields are constantly increasing, and weak light detection technology is getting more and more attention. Some developments have been made in the application of weak light image enhancement technology. For example, image intensifiers can realize low-illuminance target detection; but for applications in lower-illuminance fields, the performance of these instruments cannot meet the requirements, such as: astronomical observation, extremely weak space Research on extremely weak light phenomena such as light detection and bioluminescence. In these extremely weak light detections, it is necessary to detect the imaging position of a single photon, and...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] At present, with conventional low-light imaging devices, such as image intensifiers, ICCDs, etc., there is no single-photon counting mode, so extremely weak light signals cannot be detected; photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) can only achieve single-photon counting; and The method of single-photon counting imaging with array photomultiplier tubes is very complicated, and the resolution is not high; while for photon-counting charge-coupled devices (CCD), multiple pixels are sampled, and each pixel corresponds to one incident photon. To generate counts, multi-frame superposition is usually used, which requires a high frame rate, otherwise the count rate is low, and complex internal circuits are required, which is not practical

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