Overview of spatial and timing resolution of event counting detectors with Microchannel Plates

Abstract Event counting detectors with Microchannel Plates (MCPs) rely on conversion of incoming particles (photons, electrons, neutrons, atoms, ions) into an output charge of 103–107 electrons. This signal multiplication enables operation of those detectors at virtually zero readout noise and at very low input fluxes. The encoding of event position and timing can be performed by various types of readout configurations, which need to be selected for a particular experiment. Substantial developments in microelectronics have extended the capabilities of MCP counting detectors to GHz rates, increased their formats to 20 cm and allowed detection of multiple simultaneous events with spatial and timing resolution as good as ∼ 10 μ m and ∼ 10–20 ps, respectively. Unfortunately not all these characteristics are available in a single device. A brief overview of performance characteristics of event counting MCP detectors with different readouts is presented in this paper, providing the guidance for the selection of a particular detector configuration for a given set of experimental requirements.