Single particle detector system for high resolution time measurements

A compact detector system for single particles with an input area of 27 mm in diameter and over all height of 20 mm has been developed using a two-stage chevron microchannel plate (MCP) and a high-speed trigger circuit. A special anode configuration with a thick-film ceramic provided up to 7 kV insulation between the anode of the MCP and the following electronics as well as wide bandwidth without ringing. Additionally, the mean position information of the particles was available by dividing the anode into 16 segments. The average current for each segment was monitored. The high-speed trigger circuit was directly mounted into the detector system. The MCP response with its wide amplitude variation was converted into an emitter-coupled-logic level signal. The power dissipation was less than 300 mW. A time resolution of 500 ps and a dead time less than 3 ns were achieved